Run with wolves - Ramsay Bolton (Book 1)

Chapter 5

Ava's  POV

Ramsay and I came to an agreement that day. If he killed Myranda, then I do whatever he wants. Sansa wants to run to Jon, but the Nights watch was a long way from Winterfell. We would never outrun the Ramsay or the hounds. I wasn't stupid, Ramsay had much more men than Jon, if we did run away, he would find us, and Jon couldn't protect us from him, and it would have been a fate worth than death. I didn't even know if the rumours were true, that he was still alive Castle Black. For the time being, the safest place for us was in Winterfell. I stood in the top window and held the candle that had been left. Oh how I wanted to light it. But nobody could save me.

I needed The Bolton's if I wanted to survive, and if I ever wanted to escape. Ramsay swore to protect me, he swore to protect Sansa and as long as I became his wife. Which is what I planned to do. What use am I if was dead? Sansa would just be next in line to marry him. She didn't understand why I was doing this. If Ramsay killed Myranda, we were that little bit safer, and if I married Ramsay, Sansa was safe from everyone else. I was safe from the others who wanted to hurt me, but Ramsay was a risk to me, as the days went by, he became more violent with me, yet still his charming self. He was a loose canon. Ramsay had the numbers to protect us. I just had to hold on and stay in his good books, and we would be safe. I just have to be a good wife. He wouldn't hurt Sansa if I did that what he wanted. He wouldn't kill either of us.

I won't lie about how much my life had changed. Part of our agreement was to let the past be the past, he said that nothing mattered apart to him apart from our new alliance. I wasn't allowed to bring up anything that the Bolton's had done in the past, I was forbidden to even mention it. He was in control of my life, and it made me miserable. He really did strike the fear of the gods into me. He just had to lift a finger and I was willing to whatever he said. There was no going back. My face hurt most from the last time he struck me. There was bruising around my eye and on my cheek.

He had me stay by his side most of the time. I sat next to him at the dining table, his right grip on my leg always. We rode on his Blood together. "I don't want you to go missing now, lover." He would whisper in my ear as he held onto me for dear life. It was a threat, and I knew the true meaning was that he wasn't sure if I would run away or not. He had us spending the evenings together as well. Whenever he went, I had to go too. I was only away from him when he had meetings with his father, I wasn't allowed anywhere near that. He was secretive about what went on behind that door.

Sansa hated me, she wouldn't even look at me, never mind talk to me. She didn't even try to understand. I know she thought I was crazy, I know everyone did. But nobody got it. I was so scared of him. Sansa had often whispered to me about how Jaime would come and save me. But he never came, he would never have been able to break me out. Ramsay was an expert fighter who was incredibly intelligent and recklessly brave. Maybe this was the way things were supposed to be. I couldn't see any other alternative, he had me stuck here. Baelish had abandoned us here. He told me I didn't have to marry Ramsay and that nobody was going to force me. But that wasn't the truth.

Roose was always watching me, as if I would run away at any moment. He had paid good money for me, and as far as he was concerned I wasn't going anywhere. He had been kind when we first arrived in Winterfell. As time went on, he become cruel to us. He spoke about us like we weren't even there, like he did Walda. Maybe marrying Ramsay was a blessing in disguise all this time. It was much better than becoming Roose's wife. He was much more evil that Ramsay, he had taught him everything he knew after all. I just hoped my life got easier, I wanted someone to come and save Sansa and I, but no Prince Charming was on his way. My future was looking bleak, like Ramsay Bolton was in fact my Prince Charming.

"Penny for your thoughts Ava?" Agnes interrupted my thoughts. She was in the middle of doing my hair. It was early in the morning. The days we're getting shorter and it was still dark outside. There were 2 thicker dresses hung up. I didn't know which one to choose, they were both stunning, I wanted to fade into the background. But in those beautiful pieces, everyone would know who I was. There was a heavy knock on my door. "Hello lover. I hope you're decent." Ramsay opened the door fully and let himself in. He wanted to catch me at my most vulnerable. It was a power things for him. He was dressed in black leather. He was leaning on the door frame. "What are your plans for today?" He smiled, something didn't feel right. He knew what my plans were, the same as every other day. "Nothing that I'm aware of, my love."