Sansa unlocked the door with the stolen corkscrew. Her hands were shaking but failure was not an option. She had to light the candle before Ramsay returned from battle.

She clutched the candle desperately as she hurried through the halls, her hood pulled high over her head to mask the flaming red of her distinct Tully hair. She didn't dare exhale until she had finally made it outside onto Winterfell's bustling courtyard. Bracing her shoulders in determination, she kept her head down and her gaze steady as she traveled at a brisk pace towards the broken tower.

Don't notice me. Don't notice me she silently besought the men and women scurrying about. She felt faint with relief when she made it to the broken tower unhindered. She quickly made her way into the tower and hastily ascended the stairs.

Sansa had just placed the burning candle on the windowsill when her attention was captured by the scene playing out before her in the snow. She watched in horror as Ramsay's massive army raced towards Stannis' smaller one. Stannis didn't have a chance. He and his men would be slaughtered.

Her heart dropped as she watched one of her only hopes die. Sansa abruptly turned away. There has to be another way. She could only hope that her Northern allies that had advised her to light the candle would act quickly. "Please," she whispered.

She left the broken tower and quickly retraced her steps, trying to make it back to her chamber before anyone noticed that she was missing. Sansa reached the top of the battlements at record speed, only to make a quick about-face as a guard started in her direction. She hurried down the ramparts, heading away from him. Almost there. She chanced a quick look behind her to make sure that she wasn't being followed, before turning straight ahead and nearly jumping out of her skin.

Myranda and Theon had seemingly materialized out of thin air and were now blocking her path.

"My lady. I've come to escort you back to your chamber," Myranda informed her sweetly, pointing a loaded bow in her face while madness danced gleeful in her eyes.

"Go with her. Please," Theon spoke up from his meek position beside Myranda.

Sansa stared at him for a moment, before transferring her focus to Myranda. "I know what Ramsay is. I know what he'll do to me. If am going to die, let it happen while there's still some of me left."

"Die?" Myranda looked puzzled. "But who said anything about dying? You can't die. Your father was Warden of the North. Ramsay needs you."

Sansa could feel the terror growing inside of her at the thought of having to spend several more months being subjected to Ramsay's brutality. Death was better.

"Though I suppose he doesn't need all of you," the kennel master's daughter continued. "Just the parts he'll use to make his heir until you've given him a boy or two and he's finished using them. Then he's got incredible plans for those parts."

Sansa tried to control her breathing, wondering if she should throw herself from the battlements. Her eyes landed on Theon who was trembling and she swallowed with difficultly. I can be brave. If death is coming for me then let it happen. I'd rather go by my own hands than Ramsay's.

"So, should we wait for him to come back or should we begin now?" The look on Myranda's face was smug as she lifted her bow and arrow.

Sansa held her head high even as she remained silent.

"You're leaving it to me?" The kennel master's daughter was thrilled. "Good. Let's begin." Myranda drew back her bow.

Quick as lightning, Theon crashed into her, altering the path of the arrow as it was released. The arrow harmlessly connected with the cement wall behind Sansa and she released a breath that she was not aware that she had been holding.

She stared in shock as Theon threw Myranda over the rampart. A sickening thud sounded a short while later and she rushed over to the edge to stare at the gruesome sight below. Myranda was splattered on the ground, red spreading around her broken body.

Just then a horn sounded and a distant "Open the gates!" reached their ears.

Sansa watched in dismay as returning soldiers rode in through the gates.

"He's coming back," Theon informed as her panic filled eyes met his.

Returning to her chamber was not an option. She had to get away!

Theon grabbed her hand and they raced farther up the rampart, not stopping until they reached the front of the battlement. He looked at her and she knew what they must do. Even as her heart stopped she realized that whatever the result it couldn't be worse than Ramsay getting a hold of her.

She knew how bizarre it was that she was escaping from Winterfell when she had dreamed of returning here for so many years. But not like this. Not under these conditions. Not while Ramsay Bolton lived here. She would be back she promised herself vehemently. But this time with an army. And she would eradicate the Boltons once and for all.

Theon and Sansa stepped onto the merlons, looking at each other in confirmation, and drawing strength from the resolution in the others gaze. And then together they jumped.