We galloped past the fields of snow and grass surrounding the Great Keep. Winterfell started to look like a little Ice Sculpture the farther away we rode, and the forest nearing showed it's true beauty and vastness.

I held onto Ramsay with my life. He rode fast and fierce, becoming one with the horse as it galloped with grace. I could feel the muscles on his body tense and move like those of his noble Blood. Admittedly, it was admirable to feel and watch such power with each spring the horse sprung, with each whip and command Ramsay inflicted on him (although it made me flinch).

One moment we were riding towards it, the next we leaped into the forest between the trees. Ramsay slowed down his mighty horse, trotting through the snow until he found a tree thin enough to tie Blood to. Once he did he helped me down gently, my feet falling softly on the ground.

Smiling his crooked smile, he said "Here we are, lady Edda. What's next?"

I gave him a look.

He laughed at me, asking "What do you want to do? Play in the snow, go to a nearby pub... Oh! You know what we should do?"

I smiled, a real smile, at his excitement. "What should we do, my lord?"

"Hunt!" He said, pulling out a blade from his cloak. I instinctively stepped back, almost tripping over a rock as I remembered what Myranda told me about his hunts.

Ramsay stared at me, confused "Do you not like hunting?"

I pulled myself together, watching the blade intently "... What's going to be hunted?"

Ramsay chuckled, probably thinking me mad "I don't know, squirrels? Deer? Hares? Whatever a small throwing blade can kill-" he put it away "What's the matter with you?"

I looked down at my feet, thinking very carefully about what I was going to say next. It took me a while to realize it was a fine chance to get farther from Myranda.

"M-my handmaiden, Myranda..." I mustered my most frightened voice, which was not hard as one of my defining characteristics at this point was 'afraid', "She told me you'd hunt me for sport if I bore you, that you'll flay me and maul me with your dogs after I give you an heir-"

The reaction was almost instant. Ramsay clutched my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. His anger was clearly visible, and I was afraid that my words would turn into reality.

"Myranda is jealous of you," he insisted, clenching his jaw "So she is the reason you fear me?" He shook me when I didn't answer, his voice booming "Answer!"

I nodded slowly, tears streaming down my eyes as I felt the end was near "Yes, my lord, I'm sorry I thought she'd hurt me if I told you-"

He grabbed the side of my face hard, pulling it within an inch of his face and whispered "Listen well, Edda. No one, not her, not my father, not me, will hurt you. Myranda will never touch, talk, or see you again and if she does I will burn her alive! Do you understand?"

I froze, looking at him in disbelief as my eyes continued to pour out tears "You really mean it?"

"Yes," he let go of my face, his nails left a mark on my left cheek. He cleared his throat, sighing "Don't cry, my lady, your tears will freeze on your face!"

I had to reward him, because if not he'd never let me get away with this ever again. I stood on my tip toes and kissed him, hanging onto his shoulders for support.

Ramsay held my face as I finally stopped the kiss, and I looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, pouring words of praise out as naturally as possible "I... I just wanted to feel safe, I wanted someone to protect me, and now you're here-"

He smiled and kissed me again, picking me up into his arms. His icy cold lips suddenly turned into silk, his hands and arms like a blanket to keep me warm. At some point I had to remind myself who he was, but I didn't have to act like I didn't enjoy it.

He pressed his forehead against mine, looking at me in the eye and smirking "No one but you is safe around me, do you understand? I'm still Ramsay Bolton and the only part of me that can be visibly changed is that I will soon be a husband. This means you cannot expect me to be who I am with you to other people"

I nodded, kissing his nose. He laughed, kissing mine. If I'm not wrong I'd say I've finally got him.

"Now," Ramsay put me down gently, "How about the hunting?"

I giggled, "Alright, but-"

We heard a snarl to the right, and Ramsay pulled out his blade as I cowered behind him. Out of the woods came out the last thing I'd expect today:

"...Lya!" I exclaimed, running towards my direwolf. She rested her head on my shoulder, nuzzling me as I put my arms around her.

However, when Ramsay tried to go near me Lya went into complete defense mode, pushing me aside and growling.

The Flayer gave me a nervous, almost frightened look. "... Ed-Edda," he muttered, "Please tell the wolf I-I mean it no harm"

Lya turned back to look at me, waiting for my command. If I told her to kill him, all my troubles would slip away. I could run away with her, and I had a good chance of surviving with a direwolf by my side...

But if Ramsay survived, if Ramsay killed the wolf or left alive, then there would be no one in this world that could protect me then.

And, of course, I had to stay home and protect my people from the Boltons...

None of that had to do with him and I.

"Down, Lya," I calmed her, "He's my love"

A burst of relief exploded through the Bolton's face as my direwolf reluctantly made it's way behind me.

"I guess the Gods don't want us to hunt today," Ramsay joked.

I laughed, petting my wolf as Ramsay led me back to Blood, announcing "The sun is finally falling off the sky, and the moon is soon to be thrown in as replacement. A lady shouldn't stay out this long"

"A lady shouldn't have a direwolf," I smirked at him as he helped me onto his noble steed.

Lya sniffed his feet as he laughed "No she shouldn't"