The Winter Wolf
She walked beside her horse, after riding for six days, she needed to stretch her legs, even though she just wanted to be in the safety and warm, familiar company of the Forresters. Alyssa wondered if Roose Bolton was still alive. If they kept the pace that Alyssa had set for them, then they would be in Ironrath within days. Did she feel bad about what she did to Roose Bolton? Or what she had done to the Freys? Not even the slightest bit. If she had to do it all over again, she would in a heartbeat. Alyssa burst out laughing as something crossed her mind. At the time, it hadn't been that funny, but now, Alyssa got it.
She laughed out, "I don't think he heard you!"
Gendry frowned, "What?"
Bronn smirked, "You should have talked to him before you cut his ear off."
"You cut off Lord Bolton's ear?" Gendry's eyes widened.
"I did," Alyssa nodded.
"Both of them?" Gendry asked.
I should have done both," Alyssa sighed as she calmed down a bit. "Let's pray that he magically loses the other one."
Gendry grinned a little, surprising Alyssa. He looked around and cleared his throat, "May I ask where we're going, my Queen?"
"The one place I'll feel completely safe," Alyssa replied.
"The Wall?" Gendry frowned.
"She means Ironrath, boy," Bronn stated. "I don't think she would feel completely safe at the Wall."
"I do mean Ironrath," Alyssa nodded. She watched as Gendry relaxed, as though her words took a weight off of him.
Shadow stopped suddenly, her head snapped to the left-north-and the direwolf began to snarl as she adjusted her body to fully face the direction she was snarling. Bronn and Gendry quickly drew their swords, Alyssa grabbed her bow and an arrow from her saddle and aimed blindly. Her eyes scanned the thick trees, her heart pounded in her ears. Was it possible that the Boltons had sent men after her already?
"You're Lord Commander Jon Snow's sister?" a woman's voice called out. "I only ask because of the direwolf."
Alyssa shifted, the accent was close to Osha's. Expect Wildlings. Her eyes continued to scan the trees, "How many of there with you?"
"I'm alone, the rest... they were all killed," the Wildling stepped out. "I hid, and then I ran. What happened to what was left of my Clan..." She dropped her spear to the ground, her blue eyes sparkled when she looked at Shadow.. "You are Jon Snow's sister, right? Alyssa Stark?"
"I am," Alyssa lowered her bow.
"What happened to your 'Clan'?" Bronn asked the Wildling.
"Most of them died before we got on this side of the Wall," the Wildling kept her eyes on Shadow, who had relaxed. "There were few of us left in my Clan. The Lord Commander released us on this side of the Wall." She took a deep breath and finally looked at Alyssa, "What was left got skinned as though they were animals. Just completely..."
Alyssa glanced at Bronn and Gendry. They knew as well as she did who was behind that. Ramsay. Her gray eyes went back to the Wildling, "How long ago was that?"
"Two days ago. I've been riding nonstop since then to get away," the Wildling breathed out.
"What's your name?" Alyssa asked the Wildling.
"Jess," the Wildling replied.
"Just Jess?" Bronn tilted his head a bit.
"Just Jess," she nodded.
"If you want to, you may come with us," Alyssa told Jess.
"You'd show such kindness to a 'Wildling'?" Jess looked confused. "Why?"
"I have the blood of the First Men running through my veins, as you do," Alyssa said simply, and then she sighed. "And because it was my... husband, my enemy, who flayed your Clan, I feel that we have a bit of trust in that alone."
"Your man is your enemy?" Jess frowned.
"Yes," Alyssa nodded.
"And you want me around?" Jess eyed Alyssa.
"We'll tell people that you're my handmaiden," Alyssa smiled brightly.
Jess's frown grew, "Handmaiden?"
"I'll explain later, you'll be at my side almost all of the time," Alyssa told her.
Bronn laughed, "That's very fitting, Your Grace."
Jess nodded, "I'd be happy to."
Alyssa smirked, "You said that you 'rode'?"
"Yes," Jess pulled a large horse out from behind the tree.
"We need to get moving. Now," Alyssa said to her sworn-swords .
Both of them nodded. Bronn grinned at her as they all mounted their horses, "The Queen of the North likes to collect misfits."
"Excuse me?" Alyssa raised an eyebrow at him.
"As you know, my Queen, I am an ex-sellsword, and Gendry is a dead King's Bastard. We're sworn to protect you. We're pretty much your Queensguard, and now..." Bronn started to laugh. "Now you have a handmaiden who is a Wildling."
Alyssa laughed, that was why she liked Bronn, he said what was on his mind. No matter the situation. She didn't fear the Boltons, but she couldn't face them without support. Such as an army's support. The Boltons men followed Roose and Ramsay, not the "Queen of the North". Currently, she had no army, so she needed to get to a place she would be safe until she could do something. She needed to make it to Ironrath as quickly as possible.
A very special thanks to all of you! All of the reviews are inspirational! I would love feedback on this chapter! The more reviews this gets, the faster the next chapter will come out. Some of you have been waiting for this POV to show up since Alyssa's last chapter ;) there's a hint for you all.
