Rose kept hold of Jeyne's arm as she was escorted to the Godswood. Ramsay stood where with Roose to his side and a septon in front of them. Rose clung tightly to Jeyne's arm at the sight of Ramsay's sinister smile in her direction. He hadn't bothered to change from the jerkin he had worn before. His cloak covered his shoulders and his hair was still a mess on top of his head. He looked no different and he certainly did not look as though he was prepared for a wedding.

"What is the meaning of this?" Rose asked as she stood before them.

"You said that you did not care for a ceremony," Ramsay shrugged at his bride and Jeyne looked to the man she was supposed to marry with a brief flicker of her eyes. "We should marry as soon as possible and it is possible now."

"Now?" Rose startled. "Is this not too soon?"

"Do you wish to remain a widow?" Roose asked of her and Rose turned her glowering orbs to him as soon as he had spoken. "Or is there no loyalty left inside of you?"

"I know where my loyalty lies," Rose said in a whisper. She almost wanted to add on that it was not with them, but she said nothing of the sort. She valued her life too much right then. "But this is all so sudden and I do not look presentable."

Ramsay laughed at that and sauntered closer to her, pulling her arm from Jeyne and wrapping his own around her waist as he looked her up and down and took in the blue gown she wore on her body.

"You look beautiful in anything," he whispered into her ear. "You could come to me naked and you would still look beautiful."

Rose was grateful that no one could hear him then. She took a deep breath and Ramsay chuckled as he swatted her hip with his hand and released her. He ran his hands together and nodded to his father.

"Shall we begin?" Roose wondered.

Rose felt all sets of eyes on her and she startled for a moment. She froze and contemplated what was about to happen. But then she looked at Ramsay. She looked at him and she knew how suspicious he was of her already. Rose didn't want him to be suspicious. If he wanted her to be his wife then she had no other option but to do as he asked. She would keep on living.

"Of course," Rose said; a hand on her churning stomach as she stepped closer to Ramsay and held her hand out to him. "I was simply nervous. I was never hesitant."

Ramsay smiled at that and he took her hand inside of his as the septon began to speak. Jeyne watched the ceremony with bated breath, wondering whether or not the rumours of Ramsay Snow were true. From what she had seen of him, he was devoted to Rose. He would never hurt her. He looked as though he wouldn't hurt anyone when Jeyne rode in and saw Rose gathered in his arms. But she knew better. She could see it in Rose's face.

The ceremony was quick and cruel. Rose said the words she had said to Theon and she realised that she was now married to two men. She almost wanted to snort at that, but she remained silent. Ramsay stared intently at her as he said his words and it soon was announced that she was a Bolton. She felt robbed. Ramsay had taken so much from her and now he had taken her name.

She blinked back the tears as he kissed her swiftly and Roose gave a tight lipped smile.

"Good," he decreed in a low voice. "Now that is done, we can go about our business for the day."

"And what we discussed?" Ramsay quickly asked, his hands still holding onto Rose's hands.

"Pack and leave as soon as you wish. Take a guard of twenty men," Roose said and Rose's brows furrowed.

"What is it?" she wondered from her husband.

"We're going to Bardontown, love," he informed his wife. "You did want to see your mother, did you not? I thought it only right that we go and meet her. We are husband and wife now. She will want to meet the man her daughter married."

Rose flushed and nodded. The thought of getting back to her mother filled her with hope.

"Lord Bolton," Rose called out as Roose looked to Jeyne and then back to Rose. "May I bring Arya on the journey with me? She is no due to marry yet and no doubt she would like some time from Winterfell as it is being rebuilt."

Roose regarded Rose coldly and then looked to Jeyne who nodded with haste. She had a facade to keep and Rose was the only one who knew that. She could not risk both of them. It would not end well.

"It would please me to meet the Lords and Ladies of the Northern towns," Jeyne said kindly. "I shall be no bother to Lord Ramsay and Lady Rose. My father always said that a ruler needs to show kindness."

Ramsay contemplated the plan and suddenly nodded. "It will show them that the Starks are truly gone," he informed his father. "If she comes with us then she can tell them that she has pledged fealty. No one would dare question it and we could continue to rule."

Rose was shocked that her husband had agreed, but she pretended to be happy as she ran a hand down his cheek and kissed the other one. She was disgusted with herself, but what more could she do? If she was to keep Jeyne and herself alive then she had to make sacrifices. It was the only way. Her father had told her to keep living and do whatever she could to leave Ramsay.

"Fine," Roose agreed. "Lady Arya shall travel with you and you shall see to it she pledges her allegiance to House Bolton as the new rulers of the North."

...

The bedding ceremony wasn't needed considering Rose had been sharing Ramsay's bed for weeks. But he still found it appropriate to take her when they retired to their tent for the evening. He had been gentle as his body moved above hers and Rose pretended to enjoy herself.

"Don't take moon tea in the morning," Ramsay urged her as he pulled her to his side once he had finished. "The sooner you are with my heir then the more Boltons shall rule."

"As you say," Rose promised him, but she knew that she fully intended to find moon tea as soon as she was back in Bardontown.

"How does it feel to be a Bolton?" Ramsay suddenly asked of her. "And my wife?"

"I have wanted this for a long time," Rose lied to him. "I cannot explain how it feels, Ramsay. I don't think that there are words to explain how it feels. I am happy, but I am nervous. The thought of carrying a child scares me. My mother has suffered miscarriages."

"You are not your mother," Ramsay assured her. "I shall see to it that you have the best maester in the Seven Kingdoms."

She gave a slim smile before closing her eyes, thinking about children again. Perhaps it would have been better if Theon had gotten her with child. Maybe Ramsay wouldn't have wanted her if she turned fat and ugly. She didn't know, but she thought that it might have changed everything. She only hoped that Theon was safe and back home, remembering who he truly was.

...

Rose could barely remember what Bardontown looked like. It was a small castle in the middle of a booming fishing village. It sat on the coast and the views of the sea were cold yet lovely. It didn't feel as grim as the Dreadfort, but Celia Bardon was to thank for that. She was a woman who enjoyed the finer things in life. Tapestries, vases and flowers brightened up the castle. Rose remembered that her mother had always loved colour.

It seemed as though she still did.

Celia Bardon remained seated in her solar, looking through the glass doors and onto the balcony which looked over the sea. She had been told that House Bolton was less than a day's ride away. She had received news that Ramsay Bolton had taken her daughter for his own. He had married her after he had killed her husband.

She had thrown a fit of rage. She had screamed and yelled even though the maester had told her not to. He had told her that she was still weak. She had resented that word. She would not be weak. She would fight back and she would have her revenge on the bastard who killed her husband and ruined her little girl.

"My Lady," a guard spoke and the woman stood up. "Lord Ramsay Bolton and Lady Rose Bolton are here."

She pulled her brown hair over her shoulders and straightened out the simple black mourning dress she still wore. She nodded at the guard.

"Send them in."

He backed out the room and left the door open. Celia waited for those few moments, her anger building inside of her. But she soon found it disappeared when her daughter stepped into the room. Celia didn't notice Ramsay behind her. She only had eyes for the little girl she had lost years ago. A sob escaped her lips as Rose moved closer. Her mother looked older, but she still had the kind face Rose remembered.

"My sweet little Rose," Celia spoke, holding her arms out and moving to her daughter as Rose smiled and rushed towards her mother. "My, look at you, you're a beautiful young woman...so pretty..."

She held Rose to her as she spoke, a small tear rolling down her cheek as she kissed her daughter's temple and looked to her. It was only then when she noted Ramsay over her daughter's shoulder. Her gaze intensified and her anger returned inside of her as Rose continued to observe her mother.

"Lady Bardon," Ramsay drawled. "I wish to apologise for what happened with your husband. For some unbeknownst reason he turned against me. He was declared a traitor. Perhaps he lost his mind? I do not know."

Celia remained mute, her lips tightly pulled together as Rose felt her mother grab her hand and hold it tightly inside of hers.

"I thank you for your apologies, Lord Ramsay," Celia said, her voice light and kind as Rose's brows furrowed and she looked to her mother. "Perhaps we can place this event behind us? I have organised a feast for us this evening. You might want to rest beforehand."

Ramsay gave a wet lipped smile and Rose wondered what her mother had said. Had she spoke the truth? It was only when Celia looked to Rose did the younger girl recognise the expression on the elder's face. It was the same expression Rose had been wearing since she had discovered Ramsay's betrayal. Celia Bardon was no fool and she knew how to get what she wanted. Rose's cunningness obviously came from her mother.

...

A/N: Thanks to everyone reading and please do review!