Soon after lunch I snuck into the council room with Lya following closely behind. The plans to attack Stannis were clearly laid out on the table. Maybe, I thought, If I send Stannis a letter about the plans he would be able to defeat Roose Bolton and grant me forgiveness.

Even with that in mind I hesitated. My neck still hurt from the library, and I had bruises on my cheeks. Ramsay was not good, he was a terrible, terrible man with terrible intentions... but I'd never rule the North unless I married into it. No matter how much more entitled I was to this position, I was still a woman.

Before I made my decision Lya started to growl. I realized she was growling at Reek, who tried to go into the room. I had to pull her back in order from stopping her from eating him. Ramsay's slave had fallen onto the floor in fear.

"My-my lady Edda-"

"I'm not your lady, Greyjoy," I spat, the hate I had against him flooding out, "You made that clear when you attacked my home. Because of you my brothers Bran and Rickon are dead. Osha is dead," i spat angrily, "I don't know why I'm not letting Lya kill you"

Reek's eyes watered as he tried to avoid eye contact with me. "If Roose Bolton finds you here-"

"He'll kill me?" I raised my eyebrow, "He can't kill me. I'm the key to the North-"

"There are worse things than death!" He insisted as I stared down at his missing fingers. I clenched my jaw, calming Lya.

Reek struggled to stand, but when he did he said "Roose... It's Roose"

I gave him a look, "Roose what?"

"Roose w-wants you," Reek shook as he spoke, "He's planning killing Ramsay so he can have you for himself. He'll try to force himself on you, and after you give him a Stark heir he'll slit your throat and rule the North"

I stared at him in shock. Reek was almost in tears as he said this! Why... Why would he say that? How could this be true!

"Why haven't you told Ramsay?" I asked, confused.

"He won't believe me if I did, lady Edda," he begged me to believe him, "Please listen to me. You have to tell Ramsay. Ramsay trusts you and values you while to him I'm his-" he froze, gulping. I knew what he was going to say: his fool.

I gave Lya a look. I couldn't trust him, not after what he's done. Stroking her head I said "Unless I have full proof of Roose Bolton's intentions with me I will not listen to you, Reek. You tore my family in half once, why wouldn't you do it again?"

His eyes were swelled and tears kept falling down his face. He pulled out a letter from his pocket and left it on a table near him before disappearing.

...

Immediately after he left I snatched it and shoved it into my pocket. I made my way to my personal library in the Broken Tower and locked the door, even though no one was there. I didn't want to be discovered.

Lya laid across my lap as I ripped it open, opening and reading the letter:

To King Tommen of House Baratheon.

Your grace, my intentions when we captured the Stark girl were not to go against you but to finally gather all the Northerners to our and therefore your side.

However my son, Lord Ramsay Bolton, has not been casting a very good impression on her. I believe he has been torturing Edda Stark, slowly draining her life away so that he may marry one of his whores. And so if you grant me the permission I shall end this madness once and for all by taking matters into my own hands.

Without Ramsay in the way the North will be but a bedroom away from your grasp after Edda produces me an heir, and unless you object I'll have her slain right after our child and heir's birth.

Your most dutiful servant,

Lord Roose Bolton, Warden of the North.

I couldn't believe my eyes. This was his handwriting, I'd seen it before! He wrote the letter to Ramsay of my arrival to Winterfell after my kidnapping in this exact way. It even had the symbol of the Flayed man.

And so I did the only thing I could do with this information: I hid it away.