mine is the fury // j.snow 2.

6.10 Ramsay Bolton

The Princess saw Winterfell in the distance and couldn't help but get lost in it. Even if it looked differently - colder. She saw Ramsay Bolton riding towards them with his bannermen.

"You don't have to be here," Jon told Sansa. She looked hurt seeing Ramsay again.

"I have to," she answered not taking her eyes off of the psychotic maniac.

Ramsay stopped and Arabella frowned. "My beloved wife," he began smiling. Arabella knew what a killer he was and how he harmed Sansa. "I've missed you terribly. Thank you for returning lady Bolton safely. Now, dismount and kneel before me, surrender your army, give me the Princess and her companion so I could bring them back where they belong. And proclaim me the true lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I will pardon you for deserting the Night's Watch. I will pardon these treasonous lords for betraying my house. Come, bastard, you don't have the men, you don't have the horses and you don't have Winterfell... Why lead those pour souls into slaughter? There's no need for a battle. Get off your horse and kneel. I'm a man of mercy..." Ramsay finished his speech.

Arabella stared at him, not hiding her disgust in the man. "You're right," Jon answered. "There's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this the old way. You against me." he told him.

Arabella looked at Jon with a frown forming on her face. Ramsay then chuckled. "I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. The way people in the North talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman, who ever walked. Maybe you are that good. Maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you. But I know that my army will beat yours. I have 6000 men. You have what? Half that? Not even?" Ramsay asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Aye, you have the numbers," Jon smiled sensing that Ramsay was scared of them fighting alone. "Will your men want to fight for you when they hear you wouldn't fight for them?"

Ramsay's smile faded as he stared at Jon. As his fell, Arabella's smile rose.

"He's good," Ramsay then said laughing and pointing at Jon. "Very good. Tell me, will you let your little brother die, because you're too proud to surrender?"

"How do we know you have him?" Sansa asked coldly.

Ramsay looked at Smalljon Umber. He took out and threw dire wolf's head on the ground. Jon looked at it sadly. "Now if you want to save--"

"You're going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well," Sansa cut him off and rode away. Arabella looked back at Ramsay and he was looking at her.

"She's a fine woman, you're sister," his look went to Jon. "I look forward to having her back in my bed. And why should I give them back the traitor? She could warm my men's beds every single night," he said looking at Arabella, though his words didn't affect her at all. On the other hand, Jon clenched his jaw and Caine narrowed his eyes. "And you're all fine-looking men. My dogs are desperate to meet you. I haven't fed them in seven days. They're ravenous. I wonder which parts they'll try first? Your eyes? Your balls? We'll find out soon enough. In the morning, bastard..." and with that Ramsay rode away.

<...>

"If he was smart, he'd stay inside the walls of Winterfell and wait us out," Jon said as all of them were in the tent.

"That's not his way," Ser Davos shook his head. "He knows the North is watching. If the other houses sense weakness on his part, they'll stop fearing him. He can't have that. Fear is his power."

"It's his weakness too," Jon answered. "His men don't want to fight for him. They're forced to fight for him. If they feel the tide turning--"

"It's not his men that worrying me. It's his horses," Tormund cut Jon off. "I know what mounted knights can do to us."

Arabella didn't listen anymore. She turned to Sansa, who sat there with cold look on her face. Arabella grabbed her hand and squeezed it a little. Sansa looked down at it with watery eyes and both of them looked back at the men.

"If we let him buckle our center, he'll pursue. Then we'll have him surrounded on three sides..."

Jon and Tormund whispered something to one another. "We should all get some sleep," Ser Davos informed them.

"Rest, Jon Snow, we need you sharp tomorrow," Tormund said and all of them left the tent.

"Ser Davos," Arabella called after and the man turned to look at her. "I know you are a great leader. I can tell by my uncle trusting you. I want you to lead our men. Show them that it's worth fighting for Jon, not me..." she told him with heartfelt passion.

"It'll be my pleasure, Princess." he smiled.

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