I saw Winterfell in the distance.
In my dreams I was ecstatic about going back but now, I dreaded it.
We rode quietly through the village, and I looked out of the window. The people looked hopeless and sad. Nothing like when my father was Lord. The people looked malnourished and dirty, some wearing rags that are not fit to warm them through the horrible climate of the North.
As we rode the final road to Winterfell, I smelled the familiar, fresh, strong smell of the North. I missed it so much. Down South, the air smells more like horse shit than anything else.
We rode into the castle, and some servants stopped the horses. I immediately spotted Roose Bolton, and a younger, more handsome version of him, who I guessed was Ramsay Bolton. Next to them stood a woman I guessed was Roose's wife, since he mentioned something about her on the wedding feast.
Oh the wedding feast.
It was hard to even look at the Boltons without wanting to kill them.
Lord Baelish walked me over to them gently, and I looked at Roose Bolton with new-found bravery. He wasn't getting me to show any weakness. Not to him.
"Lady Audelia", greeted Roose.
"Lord Bolton", I replied, coldly.
"Welcome", he continued, disregarding my tone.
I stared him down with ice-cold, blue Tully eyes. I knew I had to play my part to make this match work, for me to be able to avenge my family. But I had to let him know that
The North Remembers
I curtsied after a moment, with the most fake smile I had ever had to make.
"May I introduce my son, Ramsay", continued Roose and stepped aside to let me meet my husband to be.
"It is an honor to meet you, Lady Audelia", he greeted, taking my hand in his and kissing it softly.
After I met the wife of Lord Bolton, I was led inside the castle that I once called home, and into my old room.
It was further away from all the others, somewhat in a tower by itself. It was circular with a big window that I could look out of. I entered the room, recognizing it immediately. The bed, the shelves were still there, just moved around. It wasn't how I left it.
That hurt me to think about. Nothing would ever be the same.
"Welcome home, Lady Stark", said the old woman that led me inside. "The North Remembers".
She walked out for the warm water, and I looked outside the large windows. It was nothing how I remembered it to be. Everything was different.
I looked over at the spot where Rickon and Bran used to spar. Jon and Robb would try to help them out but it was hopeless. Father told them that they just had to give them time. Now a cart with clothes stood where they used to train.
Then I looked over to the bench by the side of the castle where Sansa and I would usually sew together as to watch our brothers and get something useful done. That bench was no longer there, instead two rows of soldiers stood tall and strong.
After my bath, I decided to take a walk around Winterfell. Visit my favourite places like the library, the secret spot me, Jon and Arya would sneak away to teach our little sister sword fighting or archery. ANd of course the weirwood tree. I had missed it.
The library remained unchanged, thank the gods. It was as it has always been, quite, old, and dusty. But it was nice. I would certainly be spending a lot of time here when I get married and we would wait for things to calm down.
Then I walked outside. Everywhere I looked I saw different memories of my family.
The corner by the wall where me, Robb, and Arya would watch our Father, or Jon open another one of our pranks. They always knew it was us, but father never punished us. He thought it was funny. Although we made the mistake of making a prank on our mother. Needless to say, we did not make another prank on anybody for a long time.
The horse stalls were the spot where Bran and Rickon made their pranks. We had somewhat of a prank war amongst ourselves. Bran and Rickon vs Me, Arya and Robb. Jon stayed out of it as he didn't want any trouble with mother, but Sansa never really interested in that. I still remember the ONE time father pranked us all back. He usually tried to stay away, but he pranked us back one time. It was amazing, still a fond memory of mine. The one time father showed us that he had a goofy side to him. Mother of course wasn't particularly happy about it, but she let us have it.
Now they were all dead.
All except me and Sansa.
I was safe here in the North. It was as safe as it got anyway.
Last I heard, Joffrey was dead, Tywin was dead, the Lannister name did not mean what it once did. It was no longer the great House it was before. There were only three Lannisters, I guess I should say four. Tyrion was gone, escaped, and had killed Tywin, sooner or later his head would be on a spike. Tommen was a sweet boy, not a King to fear. Jaime was a King's Guard, not allowed any children, and he had only one hand, he couldn't fight as he once did. And Cercei, was losing power by the minute. She was no longer Queen, Margaery was the Queen. And being Queen Mother was not nearly as rewarding as being the actual Queen. It was just a title given to her because they couldn't just throw her out, she was the King's mother. But nothing more.
I walked to the weirwood tree. It remained as beautiful, and as strong as I last remembered it to be. The leaves were of the color Blood Red, and they sparkled in the sunlight. I walked closer, and saw the engravings me and Jon made on the tree, to remind everyone else, the future Starks that Lady Audelia Stark, and Jon Snow lived here, breathed here. They were still there, an 'A' for me, and a 'J' for Jon. 'AJ', just written together, not in a heart, or with a plus, just AJ. Simple but memorable.
After I sat under the tree, remembering all the conversation I had here, I walked to the crypts. I was ready. I needed to see them again.
I had only been down in the crypts a handful of times. Once was when Father took me down there to teach me about my ancestors, my grandfather, Rickard Stark, my uncle, Brandon Stark, some other ancestors, and finally, my aunt, Lyanna Stark. He rarely talked about her. My siblings only know her name, but I always listened to father and his stories, I tried to find their real meaning, their lessons. I listened the way father listened to me, sometimes I did not find the stories interesting but I still made sure to pay attention. Father always did with me, why shouldn't I do the same with him?
So that one time he talked about Lyanna. He said she was beautiful, with a hair like mine, but with eyes colored grey. He said that I reminded him a lot of her. That I was just as adventurous, and rebellious. Father said she would have loved to meet me.
I heard the story from Maester Luwin before. There was a tourney at Harrenhaal, everyone who mattered was there. Robert Baratheon, father, the Mad King, Rhaegar Targaryen, my aunt. She was already promised to Robert. It was the last ride, Ser Barristan Selmy vs Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. When the Prince won, everyone cheered, but everybody went as quiet as a mouse when the Prince rode right past his wife, Elia Martell and to my aunt, Lyanna Stark, laying a crown of beautiful winter roses on her lap. Everybody was horrified as Rhaegar rode away and Lyanna blushed and smiled at the fact that the handsome prince, the next King gave her the crown that symbolizes beauty.
How many tens of thousands had to die because the great, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped my aunt, and raped her. And Robert fought so hard to get her back, but she died anyway.
I lit the candles, putting them in Lyanna's hands as I looked up at her. I knew mothers nor Robb's bodies would be here. I heard that they dumped my mother's body in the river, and Robb's was destroyed to the point where nothing was able to be shipped back. Nobody would ship it back anyway.
I finally found the courage to get to my father. He stood tall and proud. ANd I lit the candles, putting them in his hands before finally, with a deep breath looking up at his face.
It looked nothing like him.
At all. I looked at the statue and didn't see father, I saw a man I did not know. But I guess the ones left who knew what father looked like were dead, or somewhere else.
"I'm sorry", I whispered to him, as if he could hear me. "I'm sorry this happened to you, father".
"I thought I'd find you here", I heard Lord Baelish say, and I barely acknowledged him as I put a feather I found lying on Lyanna's tomb in his hands.
"I am leaving soon", he announced and that made me turn to him.
"Where?", I ask, surprised, and a bit angry.
"King's Landing", replied Petyr.
"You can't! You can't leave me here with them, alone", I argued.
"Cercei send for me, and we cannot let her sniff out any trouble here", he replied, taking my arm and leading me with him away from the crypts. "I will come back before long".
"You can't leave me here", I argued.
"I know how hard it is to live with people you despise. Believe me, I know. But it won't be for long.", he replied, trying to assure me.
"How do you know?", I ask.
"Stannis Baratheon is at Castle Black. He will be marching at Winterfell soon enough, and when he takes it, he will rid the North of House Bolton, and then take the Iron Throne", replied Petyr.
"What if he doesn't attack Winterfell?", I ask, unsure.
"He will", he assured me.
"And if he doesn't?", I repeat my question.
"He will attack Winterfell, because then he will have the entire North behind him, he will have a larger army than the South, and will take the Iron Throne without a problem. But before, he will rid the North of the Boltons, and as you are the eldest surviving Stark, he will name you as Wardness of the North", explained Petyr.
"Do you think he will really defeat the Boltons?", I ask.
"He has a larger army, and he is the finest military man alive. A betting man would bet on him, and as it so happens, I am a betting man", replied Petyr.
"And if he doesn't?", I ask, once more.
"Then you will take this Bolton boy, and make him yours", replied Petyr simply.
"I don't know how to do that", I replied truthfully. I had never been looking for romantic relationships, and with Jaime it kind of happened on it's own.
"Yes you do", he said, and his eyes sparkled in a way as if he knew something. "Besides, he has already fallen for you".
"And then you will outmaneuver them", he continued. "And you learned to maneuver from the best".
He was giving himself too much credit.
Then he took my face into his rough hands, and leaned in to kiss me.
"The North will be yours", he assured me in a whisper. "Do you believe me?".
I had to lie. I didn't believe a thing he said, but I had to lie to him, for him, against him. It was true, I learned to maneuver from the best. But even the most dangerous men could be outmaneuvered.
It just took time.
"Yes", I replied in a whisper.
Then he finally left. Rode off on his horse, and I had a feeling he would not return for a long time. I felt alone, more than ever. I had nobody I trusted here, and I was in the lair of enemies.
"My lady, your bath is ready", informed me a young woman I didn't know. I nodded and followed her back to my room, and she began helping me clean myself. I never liked having anybody look at my body, but I couldn't say anything here in this case as to not seem suspicious.
"You are beautiful", she complimented as she washed my hair. I smiled weakly at her.
"You have to keep Ramsay interested so he doesn't get tired of you", she continued. "You don't want to end up like the others".
"What others?", I ask.
"I shouldn't gossip", she replied and I looked at her with the same ice-cold look. She nodded and continued talking.
"Let's see, we had Kira, the blacksmith's daughter, she was taller than you, with a lovely figure. But she talked and talked and talked and Ramsay grew tired of that. Then there was Violet, gorgeous blond hair, but she looked pregnant, and well that was boring. Then Tansy, such a sweet girl, yet a bit dull", she continued and I sat up, she helped me wipe my hair.
"Well, I am not like other girls", I say. "What was your name again?".
"Miranda, my lady", she replied.
"And how long have you loved him, Miranda?", I ask, as I turn to her. She was caught off guard but I looked at her with my eyes. "You probably thought that he would be with you forever but I came along and ruined it".
"I am Lady Audelia Stark of Winterfell. Daughter of the great Eddard Stark, and Catelyn Stark. Sister to King Robb Stark. You cannot frighten me, girl.", I say, with venom in my voice. She narrowed her eyes at me but didn't say anything.
"And who was your family? Have I ever heard of them?", I asked and she looked down at the ground.
"I thought so".
"Do not presume to advise me, touch me, or talk to me ever again. Unless you want to lose your head", I seethe. "Now here is what I want you to do, I want you to leave my presence".
Miranda looked somewhat taken aback at me, standing up, curtsying and leaving my room. I didn't care if she was hurt, or she would tattle on me to the Boltons.
She has no right to try and intimidate me. To scare me. I am home. I am a Stark, a wolf.
Leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe.
A saying me and Arya came up with in King's Landing.
I got ready for my wedding by myself after that. Braiding my hair in beautiful braids, and making sure everything fit. But I could not get Miranda's words out of my head. Those poor girls.... what happened to them? But knowing who Roose was, I didn't doubt Ramsay was as bad as him, if not worse, so I did not want to find out.
I had to be strong, for my family, for Jaime, for myself.
The door to my room opened and I stopped at the sight of who it was.
Theon.
"I've come to escort you to the godswood", he announced with a weak voice I have never heard before leave his mouth.
"Will you please my lady, will you take my hand", he began and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You killed Rickon, you killed Bran, you surrendered Winterfell to the enemy. I will never take your hand, Theon".
"It's Reek, my lady", he replied and I furrowed my eyebrows. He was not his usual self, I had expected him to be guilt ridden, and behave cowardly but he looked like a broken man.
"Lord Ramsay said I am to take your arm and bring you to him", he continued.
"I am not touching you", I sneered.
"Please", he begged. "He will punish me".
I was even more confused. What did Theon, sorry Reek mean?
"Do you think I care what he does to you?", I ask.
I walked right passed him and he trailed after me, not too close, not too far. We arrived in the godswoods, and I saw the Boltons, the Septor, and some guards and other people that would be our witnesses.
"Who comes before the Old Gods this night?", asked Roose Bolton.
"Audelia, of House Stark", replied Theon... Reek. "To be wed".
"The woman grown, trueborn, and noble", said the Septor.
"She comes before to beg the blessings of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?", asked Theon.
"Ramsay, of House Bolton, Heir to the Dreadfort, and Winterfell. Who gives her?", asked Ramsay as he came closer.
"Theon, of House Greyjoy", replied Theon, looking at the ground. "Who was-... Who was her father's ward".
"Lady Audelia, will you take this man?", asked Roose Bolton and I stepped forward but when I looked at Ramsay, I saw Jaime.
Gods I wished he was the one I was marrying right now. That he was here to tell me everything was alright, to kiss me, to embrace me. I just wanted another moment with him. Better yet, the rest of my life.
But I couldn't. He was in the South with Cercei, his one true love. And I was in the North, with my husband, my supposed one true love.
"I take this man", I reply weakly.
"Lord Ramsay, do you take this woman?", asked Roose Bolton.
"I take this woman", he replied almost immediately.
"Then I pronounce you, husband and wife", announced the Septor.
I was a married woman now.
Mother would be proud.