Run with wolves - Ramsay Bolton (Book 1)

Chapter 17

The next day, Ramsay woke up, he had slept in Ava's old room. He had been up till very late, talking to his father. Who of which, was putting ideas into his sons head that Ava deserved to be punished for what had happened. Ramsay didn't go back to their bed because deep, deep down he couldn't look at her. He asked Wolkan to give her sleeping herbs. The Maester promised that nothing would wake her, not even the heavens falling down, and he was right. Ramsay got dressed, and walked to their chamber. He prepared himself for a moment, he wasn't sure whether he should kiss her, or punish her like his father said to. He opened the door and crept in. But he found an empty bed. His wife was gone, all that was left was a piece of paper, and which read "Bastard." Ava was in no state to travel, mentally or physically. Ramsay feared that they would be able to turn her against him after the incident the night before. He knew instantly. Jon Snow had taken his wife, and there would be hell to pay. He dragged Rickon out of bed, and threw him into the dungeon, and he slaughtered his direwolf. He then stormed to the war room and wrote a letter, then he would gather his men up to find his wife.

To the traitor and bastard Jon Snow,

You allowed thousands of wildlings past the Wall. You have betrayed your own kind and you have betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard, come and see.
Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon. His direwolf's skin is on my floor, come and see.
I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your wildling lovers. Keep her from me and I will ride North to slaughter every wildling man, woman, and babe living under your protection. You will watch as I skin them living. You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your other sister. You will watch as my dogs devour your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see.

Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North

Ramsay sat in his chair, tugging at his hair. Screaming internally. His wife was gone, and she was carrying his child. He needed to get them back to keep his claim. She might never come back now they could turn her against him.

**

When Ava awoke she was about to call for Ramsay, but a hand touched her on the shoulder, it was a Brienne of Tarth. Ava was speechless, she thought it was a dream until her arms wrapped around her and picked her up off the floor. Brienne smiled at her warmly and offered her a drink of water. "I'm so happy I rescued you, Lady Stark you brother and sister are waiting for you. You slept the whole time and did not once wake up." Ava didn't correct Brienne of her name. "Maester Wolkan gave me something for sleep, I had an awful night last night." She mumbled, she still felt very weary and fatigued. "They drugged you?!" She nearly shouted, but Ava didn't hear her as she fell asleep on Brienne as they rode further North.

**

They rode for what felt like all night and day , it was even colder the further they went. Ava felt like she was going to pass out, she was tired and emotional, Brienne had kept the pace of her horse up and they arrived at Castle Black on the 14th day. By the time they arrived at the nights watch it was daybreak. Ava went to dismount the horse, but her legs were so weak she just slid off. Brienne caught her before she fell to the floor. She was exhausted and scared. She had been rescued and she didn't even know it was happening. She feared what would happen when Ramsay got to her, he would commit any crime to get her back. She was worried for Brienne and the rest of her saviours. She also worried about Rickon, he was alone in Winterfell with the Bolton men.

"Ava ?" She turned to see Jon running down a set of stairs. "Jon!" She called weakly. The day she had been waiting for was finally upon her, she had been reunited with her brother. But all she could think about was her violent husband, who was probably half way to Castle Black to retrieve her. They embraced each other and Ava began sobbing. She was physically free, but not mentally. She felt that she needed to get back to Winterfell, she was so frightened of her husband that part of her wished they never bothered to save her. "I missed you so much." She cried, her uncontrollable emotions were high once again. "You're safe Ava, you're 600 odd miles away from him, he can't hurt you. By the gods I missed you."