I watched the Bolton Army leave Winterfell from the walls of the Great Keep. Reek stood by my side as I wrapped myself up tight with a Bolton blanket.

Ramsay rode on his steed confidently. How could that bastard be so full of himself after the mark he left on my arm?

I glanced down at the forever scar that would never not read the word "Flayer." He had branded me like a piece of cattle, though maybe I was supposed to feel like a priced cow for I was his only one.

"Your Lord will return" Reek assured me. I didn't look at him, kept looking at the galloping army against the hard snow "... I am convinced Lord Ramsay will be back in your arms unharmed-"

"Reek-"

"But I am not sure it is what you would wish" he mumbled softly.

I gave him a look. A caring, compassionate look. For the first time I could see Theon Greyjoy clearly. His eyes, like they had been the time before the war, were full of love.

Looking around me I saw no guards. And so I asked "Do you want him to die?"

"... I don't want him to hurt you," he confessed. I knew what he meant. He knew what he meant.

"We can't," my eyes widened, "Theon they'll find us and they'll-"

"I will keep you safe," he promised, "And Sansa will want you by her side-"

"We can't," I touched his arm lightly.

Theon shook his head violently "I'm not leaving you-"

"I can take care of myself," I promised, "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell"

"He hurts you, Edda-"

"Trust me," I turned to him completely, taking off my Stark bracelet and shoving it into his hand.

He gave me a look when he realized a letter was folded behind the Stark wolf head.

"I meant to send my direwolf Lya on this mission but I know you must return to Pike with your family," I explained in a hushed tone "I know Roose and Ramsay. I've been observing them and learning their ways and I know that if Sansa comes to Winterfell she will not leave alive. Find her and give her this letter. Tell her to ride North and go to Jon. They'll protect her from the Boltons there"

"So they can come rescue you and take back Winterfell?" Theon asked.

I clenched my jaw "No. I will rule Winterfell under Ramsay's name. I can control him-"

"Edda" he looked down at my arm.

I stayed silent. Looking behind Theon I saw that no one was standing at the North wall. In fact, no one was on the wall except us! Only the gate guards and some amateurs were left on duty and not riding to battle.

"Now is your time," I warned, "If not someone will find you"

Theon hesitated, holding back tears.

"Theon... Please go,"

He hesitated before he placed a quick kiss on my lips.

I pushed him away immediately, frightened. My instincts started think of all the ways Ramsay would hurt me or him for what he just did.

"I'm sorry-"

"Go!" I snapped.

He went.

Theon would not fail me. Because of me he overcame years of torture and pain. Because of me he felt something apart from shame and fear again. And now... He loved me.

As he jumped the wall I couldn't help but start to cry. If fact for the rest of my life I will weep for this very moment. If only I had known before how he made everything easier for me, how much he'd helped me without me noticing (like lying that Ramsay wanted him by my side at all times), and the countless occasions he'd saved me from Myranda's poisonous drinks by replacing them with cherry juice and plain tea.

Theon disappeared from my sight and my life forever, and not a day passed by that I didn't tell myself: You should have left with him.

...

The battle ranged on outside, and the Bolton army was winning. My heart eased it's worry when the massive Bolton army led Stannis Baratheon and his men into the forest. They'd never be able to win now.

Suddenly I heard a bow tighten behind me. I froze.

"Enjoying your claim on the North, Stark bitch?"

Myranda.

I slowly turned to look at her, my head up high. "Looking for a bed to sleep in peasant?"

She smirked lightly, her arrow pointed at my head. "How much blood do you think a little wench like you can spill, hm? The snow is quite a dull color down there... Should we change that?"

I raised my eyebrow at her "You think you frighten me? Because if you do this I will die knowing you'll come raining down into hell piece by piece, squealing like a pig"

"You'll just love watching that from your heavens won't you?" She spat.

Slowly and quietly my direwolf made it's way behind the archer. She didn't even know what was coming.

"Oh you think I'm going to heaven?" I laughed, giving a small nod at Lya "Not after this I'm not"

Myranda shot an arrow into my left leg as Lya slammed her against the stone, biting the side of her throat. She screamed in pain and the wolf bit in deeper.

I grunted in pain as I clutched my pierced leg. With all the strength I had left I pulled my wild beast away from her and looked down at her, badly injured. Throwing her bow over the edge of the wall I crouched down over a dying Myranda.

"I chose to only say this to one person, Myranda, so listen carefully. I vow to take back the North my father ruled from all those who harmed my family. I vow to kill all those who dishonor me or challenge my temper. And you are the first victim to my wrath."

I pulled her head up by her hair and smashed it against the wooden ground repeatedly as she continued to scream, as I hit it with my fist until her skull gave in and her screams stopped and all that was left of her stained my hands, dress, and Bolton cloak.

I let Lya gnaw the meat off her bones as I stared down at my bloody, shaky hands.