The wind bit through their clothing down into the bone. Their breath turned into smoke as Sansa and Theon huddled together inside that hollowed tree.
We must find shelter. We'll not last the night if we stay this way, thought Theon.
A fresh layer of powder cushioned their fall when they jumped off Winterfell's ramparts. It was about when they were half a mile did they start to hear the bloodhounds.
North. We need to go north. Jon Snow is at the Wall. He'll keep her safe. This is all Theon thought to himself when he and Sansa ran through endless woods from sunset till the dead of night.
They're not dressed for the weather. She is in a frock of cotton and a cloak while he is in a shirt and trousers made of the same material as sacks. His shoes were actual sacks.
They made sure to stay close to the back woods and away from any hamlets on the side of the Kingsroad, but with them going to the Wall the prospect of finding people wouldn't matter anyway.
It got worse when they had to cross a partly frozen creek.
Theon tried walking across it first but the ice broke beneath his feet and he fell in. If he couldn't feel anything from his lower half before this had been worse, but he tried not to show his discomfort.
"Sansa, come on!", he shouted.
"No", she pleaded. "I'll die. I can't."
Theon had a strong need to agree if it not had been for the hound's barking. They could be farther away and the echo makes them sound closer but maybe he's just wishing out loud.
"I've seen what Ramsay's dogs do to people. I say risk it." He held out his hand. She took it and her helped her slowly get in the water.
They held each other close so they couldn't get taken by the current. Slowly and gingerly they walked. Each step felt heavier than the last but they willed each other on. The bark of the hounds faded as the shore grew closer until at last they reached it. The longest yard Theon ever walked and he did it in almost pitch darkness. He got to land first then helped Sansa up. Then they ran again.
Exhaustion finally caught up and they finally needed rest. Alone in the deep woods all they could find was a hollowed tree that has fallen on it's side. There they sat. Sansa had grown pale and she had a look that's like she's staring into nothing.
She shivered despite her cloak so Theon wrapped his arms around her. She responded in kind by holding to his arms and letting her head rest on his shoulder.
We must find shelter. We'll not last the night if we stay this way, thought Theon before falling asleep.
Then the hounds barked.
How long were we out? Hours? Minutes? How did they keep finding us? These thoughts ran through Theon's groggy mind. He had hoped that the dogs barking was just a product of his groggy mind.
They weren't. The barking and snarling grew closer.
"Sansa! Sansa wake up", he said as he shook her awake. She opened her eyes. "They found us." Hey eyes grew big at the realization. "I'll lure them away."
"No. I can't", she pleaded. "Please. I won't make it without you."
"You will. Go north. Only north. Don't stop anywhere where there's people. Jon is Lord Commander at Castle Black. He'll help you. Go!" With that he ran off to the direction of the dogs.
He walked a few yards before he ran into a horseman with the flayed man stitched in his coat. "Here! He is here!" The rest of the Bastard's Boys rode up shortly. Four other men as well as old Ben Bones the kennelmaster with his bloodhounds.
The first horseman named Yellow Dick turned back to Theon. "Little Reek. Where is Lady Bolton?"
Theon answered with a shivering voice. It's hard to tell if it was because he was cold or afraid. "She's dead."
"Liar." answered Bones. "My hounds never lie. Don't you boys?"
Theon again lied. "She broke her leg when we jumped from the ramparts. I left her to die in the snow."
"We'll see." The one named Stillwood said. "Bones."
"Come on boys. Find her. Find her." The kennelmaster rushed past Theon with the horsemen following. He rushed after them and found Sansa a few yards away from the hollowed tree. She had been cornered by a rock wall and the dogs were barking at her like crazy. The men were laughing and jeering.
Theon got in between her and the dogs. Sansa I'm sorry. He stood tall to try to scare dogs as best he could.
Dick seemed amused by the display. "I can't wait to see what part Ramsay will cut off from you this time."
Furious galloping and nickering of horses interrupts the gross laughing. The men turned around to see two horsemen coming at them at full speed. "Draw swords!", said Stillwood. One horseman got closer than the other. Stillwood said "It's a bloody woman" before she slashed him across the chest with a broadsword sending him crashing from his horse to the ground.
The woman was a giant in dark blue armor. Her short blonde hair glistened amidst the snowy gloom. Her companion was a short boy in layered leather more suited for practice than actual combat. He engaged the second horseman in a swordfight while still ahorse. The giant on horse turned to see Yellow Dick charge at her with sword drawn. She blocked his strike but the impact sent her to the ground with a thud. He turned, reared and went for another charge but as he did she stood up and tackled him from the left while he held his sword from the right sending horse and rider down. She then grabbed a dirk from her side holster and slit his neck.
Meanwhile her companion continued his duel on horseback. Blades clashed and steel sang until the horseman made a mistake. He went for a backhand slash that hit nothing but the air allowing the young man to go for a straight stab into his chest. Unfortunately, the momentum was too great and they both fell.
The blonde was just getting to her bearings when she had to block another sword strike to her head. The last horseman had dismounted earlier and was guarding Theon and Sansa but drew his sword when his companions all died. If he thought fighting her would be easy because she was off balance for a moment then he was mistaken. She may have been off balance for a moment but her experience told. He went for a downward slash which she evaded and countered with a slash to his back sending him on his knees and getting finished off with a stab to the join between his neck and shoulder.
Stillwood wasn't dead yet and proved it by getting up and lunging at the young man. His furious blows were blocked but it caused the young man to stumble backwards and drop his sword. Just when he was about to give the killing blow, Theon tackled him from his left side.
Theon thrusted a dagger he found among the corpses and repeatedly jabbed it at Stillwood's neck.
"REEK! REEK! MY NAME IS REEK! GOOD REEK! LOYAL REEK!" This he did until Sansa held him. He then calmed down and dropped the knife.
Theon Greyjoy stood witness to many men swearing fealty to Eddard Stark but that was the first time someone did the same for his daughter Sansa. She stumbled a bit on the words but she finished the rite and when they finished she had two sworn shields in her service, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne. Theon was surprised to know Pod had known Sansa in the capitol and that he squired for Tyrion Lannister of all people. For some reason Brienne took one of the hounds with them.
The group rode a half miles before stopping again to break their fast. Theon believed it wasn't safe to light a fire but Sansa assured him they are far enough away and it would take days for Lord Bolton to assemble another search party. Theon felt assured so he and Pod went out to gather firewood while Sansa and Brienne talked. Theon and Pod were trying to get a fire going when Sansa walked up.
"Theon, may we speak?", she asked.
"Go on. I need the practice anyway", said Pod while he tried to spark the flints.
Theon got up and he and Sansa stood beneath the shade of an old blasted weirwood.
Sansa spoke first. "I just want to thank you for saving me."
"You would have got out earlier if I hadn't interfered. Those people who tried to help you wouldn't have died. Ramsay wouldn't have hurt you!" Theon's voice trembled with panic.
She took his shoulders and held him steady. "That does not matter now! We got out and once we get to the Wall, the Boltons won't be able to touch us."
This didn't reassure him. "Jon will kill me the moment I step through those gates."
"I won't let him harm you! We'll tell him the truth about Bran and Rickon."
"And the truth about those farm boys I killed in their place? The truth about Ser Rodrick who I beheaded? The truth about Robb who I betrayed?" His voice broke in that last sentence.
"Once you take the black all your crimes will be forgiven." She again tried to reassure.
"I don't want to be forgiven", he said slowly. "Not after everything I've done to your family. I'd have taken you all the way to the Wall. Or die to get you there"
At this Sansa gave him a hug. This was the warmest he's felt in years. "Where will you go?", she whispered in his ear.
Though it pains to say so, the answer was simple as he heard the crashing of waves in his mind. "Home " he said.
She let go and said "Then we'll take you there. The Rills is a few miles east from here. From there you can take a ship."
He was dumb founded. "The Rills is allied with the Boltons."
She continued. "Everyone will be looking for two. They won't be looking for four. Please let me do this for you." She held his hands.
He couldn't say no so she took that as yes. Together they walked back. At least her spirits was lifting again.
They sat down just as Pod was getting the fire big enough. "Where is Brienne?"
He pointed to her as she walked back with the Bolton hound on a leash.
"What are we going to eat?", Sansa asked. Theon was looked curious.
Brienne scratched the hound's chin, then she drew out her dagger. Sansa and Theon's faces fell.
"Do either of you like the taste of dog?", she asked.