Running with Wolves

Chapter 8: The Cave

Blair

"Listen to him," I turned to see Roose riding next to me. We had let for the Dreadfort early this morning. The goodbye to my father was fast, but I would see him soon.

"Pardon, could you repeat that my lord," I quickly asked.

"I said listen to him," Roose Bolton said once again.

"And if I don't" I said while pulling down the hood of my blue cloak. I was Lady Blair Sherwin, not a slave.

"Then I cannot protect you," Roose admitted. His stone cold face turned soft for a moment. He knew what his done was. He knew what I was getting myself into. Maybe I wouldn't be alone in the Dreadfort. I might have an ally, yet.

"Roose Bolton, there are two things you should know about me before I become your 'daughter'. The first is that I am no one's slave. The second is that I can protect myself," I coldly replied. The first was a true face, the second was more of a stretch than anything.

"I thought that being from House Sherwin you wouldn't  be a stupid girl. I guess I was wrong," Roose Bolton coldly replied before his horse trotted to the front of the pack.

After a few hours of riding my legs and butt become numb. The sun had began to quickly set, and I became hopeful the we would stop riding soon. My prayers were quickly answered when Ramsay rode back to bid me the good news.

It was only a matter of moments until camp was set up and I was escorted to my tent.

It was simple on the inside, two large trunks on opposite sides of the room and a large bed in between them covered with furs.

I immediately jumped onto the bed and covered myself with all of the warm furs. It was only a matter of moments until my peace was interrupted by my handmaiden,
"My lady would you like for me to draw you a bath or get you a supper or..."

I quickly interrupted her and said, "I'm pretty sure we have both had a long day, go and rest." I wasn't moving an inch. Under the heavy furs, I felt like I was at home again. 

She smiled, curtsied, and left the room.

I was once again at peace until my stomach began to scream for food. I rolled out of bed and covered myself with on of the many furs as I could carry.

I followed the smell of possibly some sort of  sausage or deer meat which lead me to one of the many campfires.

"Blair !! " I heard a familure voice call. Ramsay came by me and immediately began to grab and kiss me.

I pushed him off of me and demanded for him to give me some food. One of his men handed me a plate and Ramsay slurred, "see you tonight" The stench of ale heavy in his breath.

His disgusting, greecey hands dug into my skin causing me to once again pry myself off of him. I ran towards my tent and dove under the covers for warmth.

I had just finished my last sausage when I heard someone whisper my name out side my tent.

I grabbed my knife I had been using for my dinner and responded, "you can come in"

I felt a sigh of relief as I saw Randal's red curly hair shoot through my tent. From childhood Randal and my brother Alek were close friends since the first time we met House Glover. Despite living half a days ride away, they somehow became extremely close.

"So I see you and Ramsay share a tent now ? I bet things are getting serious," Randal joked as he began to pack my things.

"We shouldn't grab my stuff, if you want to make it look like I was abducted. Trust me I don't like it either, but that is the plan," I mentioned to him as I threw my cloak on.

"You ready ? "
"Yeah, and thanks for getting me out of here" I quickly replied.
"Don't thank me just yet."

The two of us quickly bolted out of the tent and ran for the woods. We ran for what felt like hours until we came across a small cave.

"Make yourself comfortable and I'll go get the fire going," Randal said as he motioned me to sit on some furs on the ground. I thank the gods that my father's plan had worked.

Once he got the fire going he began to cook some sort of meat over the fire.

"So what's the plan," I squeaked after trying to cover myself in furs.

"Well, my understanding is that you are to stay in hiding for a week or two until the Boltons take a step back from looking for you, and then we play it by ear from there," he replied my finishing his dinner.

"Play it by ear ??" I practically screamed. This wasn't some game; this was my life. This was my House's life. If the Bolton's wanted to whpe out my house they could. Had her father not thought this through?

"Calm yourself," Randal calmly replied.
"No ! You are well aware that Ramsay hunts people for fun !" I yelled at him.

He then quickly doused out the flames with a nearby bucket of water.

"It's only a matter of time until Ramsay noticed that you are gone. We need to hide deep in this cave. Trust me when I say I don't want him to find us," Randal calmly replied.

I grabbed the furs and Randal grabbed the burnt wood. Smart.

I rolled onto the ground and quietly murmured, "We.....we don't want him to find us"