Run with wolves - Ramsay Bolton (Book 1)

Chapter 23

Ava's POV

I fell asleep quickly, Maester Wolkan was right, I was absolutely exhausted. So much had happened throughout my pregnancy, and it was really taking a toll on me. I had lost so many people that I loved and it wasn't fair. I had been pushed to my breaking point and very nearly didn't make it through the other side.

When I woke up in the morning, Ramsay was still sleeping. I touched the scar on his face, it stretched from the top corner of his nose, underneath his eye to the left side of his face. "You hate it just as much as me, don't you?" His eyes shot open, he turned his face away from me. "Of course not Lover, it doesn't make a difference to me." He shook his head slowly. "It's a constant reminder of what I did to you, this is what I get for the torture and the hell I put you through." I didn't like to think back to those times. I hated remembering being locked in a cage, or the times he beat me, or forced me to do things I didn't want to do. I felt bad for him , violence was all he ever knew. If he been brought up with love then he wouldn't have been that way. "That time is over Ramsay." I muttered. "I will never lay a hand on you again lover, things are different now. I'm sorry Ava." His voice was quiet and soft, and he sounded sincere. "I know my love, but we've moved past this, your scar will hopefully heal with time, as I did. We're a family, and we will be forever."

"I would be dead if it wasn't for you Ava, I owe you everything." He kissed my neck. "You don't owe me anything. Which was true, I would do it all again, if he needed me then I was there. "You would have done the same, if it was me in that chair." I reached for his hand and he held on tightly. "I would never allow that to happen to you, ever."  His eyes were soft, and that wasn't something I didn't get to see very often. "You're the first Bolton Queen, the first Wardeness of the North. You're making history, you and I are going to be in all the books about the greatest rulers. I hope you realise how special are Ava, not just to your people, but to me too."

I could have cried, Ramsay had never been so sweet to me before. I felt so glad to have finally found this side of him. "I may be the first Bolton Queen, but you're the first Bolton King. Now that is history." He smiled at nodded his head. "A King is nothing without his Queen." He rested his forehead on my own.

**

The Stark banners hung high in Winterfell.  Jon and Ramsay had been arguing since the battle about who's banners should be up. I finally gave my word. I put my foot down, I know we agreed that decisions were made as a family, but I had enough of the fighting. It was exhausting and it made our home a toxic place to be.

"I think you're forgetting that your sister has my last name." Ramsay spat at Jon. "She's still a Stark, she is the Wardeness of the North, so our banners will hang." The feud seemed to never end. "She may have been born a Stark, but her title is Lady Bolton. So therefore the Bolton banners should hang, because you're right, she is the Wardeness of the North, and her houses banners should be seen for miles." The bickering continued, and it was starting to give me a headache. "Jon is right, Ava is a Stark, she always will be. Our Banners should be the only ones hanging." Sansa decided to give her opinion. It was always two against one. Jon and Sansa versus Ramsay. "I've had enough of this." I finally snapped. "I was born a Stark, but I married a Bolton. My child is a Bolton. I'm the wardeness, and my word goes. I'm sick of the arguing, you're all acting like children." The three of them stayed quiet as I talked. "The Bolton Banners will join the Stark banners around Winterfell in the morning. End of discussion." I stood up and walked away, before Sansa or Jon could argue with me. "I told you." Ramsay smugly remarked.

"Good morning Lady Bolton." An unknown woman stood in front of me. "Good morning." I smiled. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Her honey eyes caught my attention. "My name is Ayla, I'm the new dressmaker, I've been here a couple of months, but I've never had the chance to meet you, I've been busy sewing, and designing your dresses." I pulled the thin shawl around my shoulders closer to my body. The days were still getting colder. "Are you cold my lady? I have some warmer dresses which are ready for you, Lord Bolton's orders." I nodded my head, my teeth chattering slightly. "Come with me My Lady." I followed her to her workshop, she had a rail of dresses in various colours, yellows, greens and reds. I felt a pang in my heart, I hadn't been here since Ramsay murdered my last dress maker.