The Dreadfort's Heir
The moment he rode into Winterfell, he could tell that something was off. The smell of death hung in the air, but that was probably Reek. After the night he had shared with Alyssa before he left Winterfell, Ramsay had expected that she would be out there any moment to greet him. Ramsay jumped off of his horse and moved forward. Where the fuck was everyone at? Where was Alyssa? He looked around, why did the place seem so quiet, even with the Bolton men entering the gate behind him? The main door opened, immediately, Ramsay expected his wife to come out with her sworn-swords , but instead it was the old Maester.
"Lord Ramsay!" Maester Tyberious came rushing out the door. "Thank the Gods you're here!" The old Maester looked as though he had been through all Seven Hells.
"What's wrong? Where is everyone?" Ramsay looked around the courtyard.
"Dead," the, Maester replied. "All but-"
"Dead?" Big Walder frowned.
Ramsay slapped his squire upside the head and narrowed his eyes at the Maester. "All but who?"
"Lord Bolton was lucky that I found him when I did," the Maester frowned, "and Lady Alyssa wasn't among the dead."
"Was my wife harmed?" Ramsay narrowed his eyes at the old man.
"Not that I know of," the Maester replied.
"Why was my father lucky you found him when you did?" Ramsay asked.
"Any longer, and he would have been dead. The infection that I cut out alone... he's lucky to be alive, my Lord," the Maester shifted uncomfortably. "Lord Bolton wishes to see you as soon as possible."
"Where is he?" Ramsay let out a breath.
"In his chambers," the Maester responded.
Roose Bolton was the Warden of the North, if he wanted Ramsay's attention, he'd get it. Ramsay walked quickly through Winterfell. The sooner he finished with his father, the sooner he could focus on his wife.
Ramsay opened the door and walked in. The instant that he saw Roose Bolton, Ramsay felt sorry for his father. Most of his face was covered in bandages, along with his right hand. Who could have done this? What kind of damage did Alyssa take? He almost turned to go check on his wife, when Roose's blue eyes opened.
"You're back early," Roose sounded weak.
"Dealing with the Wildlings went faster than I thought," Ramsay forced himself to stay.
"You need to leave again as soon as possible. You need to go for a hunt," Roose's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Who am I hunting, exactly?" Ramsay asked curiously.
"Your fucking wife," Roose spat.
"Alyssa?" confusion filled him.
"Who do you think did all of this? She flayed my face, carved into it, took my ear and the use of my sword hand," Roose growled.
"Why would-" Ramsay's eyes widened. "That clever bitch." He frowned at his father, "Alyssa flayed you? We're talking about my wife, right?"
"It was her first time, she did a hack job, but yes," Roose glared at Ramsay. "She slaughtered the Freys, Walda included."
Ramsay could hardly believe it. Alyssa liked Walda, from what Ramsay could tell. He was trying to wrap his mind around what Roose Bolton was telling him. The night before he left... Alyssa knew... more than they had thought. The only way she could have known was... How much had she heard? "You want me to hunt my wife, and then what?"
Roose's eyes were cold, "She's your wife. You can do whatever you wish to her. We only need her alive to maintain our hold on the North."
"When did Alyssa leave?" Ramsay asked.
"Two days after you left to deal with the Wildlings," Roose huffed out.
"She's been gone for nine days?" Ramsay breathed out. Really? How the fuck was he going to track his wife if she left nine days ago? There were many in the North who would gladly hide their Queen from Ramsay. At least he knew that he would be bored hunting. He moved towards the door, "I'll see you when I return with Alyssa."
"You're leaving now?" Roose frowned.
"The longer I stay, the farther away my wife gets from me," Ramsay stated before he walked out of his father's chambers.
The moment he was out of Roose Bolton's line of sight, Ramsay smiled to himself. What he would have given to see Alyssa act as a predator... a wolf. It took most of his self-control not to be impressed with her, by all rights, Ramsay should have been pissed, but the thought of his wife slaughtering people...
"Do you know who massacred my brothers and sister?" Big Walder looked shaken, he must have seen the bodies.
"I do," Ramsay moved past his squires.
"Let's go teach that fucker a lesson," Little Walder growled out.
"The two of you will be staying here," Ramsay moved towards Reek and called out. "Get two horses ready, Reek, we're going hunting."
"Yes, my Lord," Reek went back into the stables.
Ramsay stopped and took several deep breaths. He wasn't angry about what Alyssa had done. He wasn't pissed that she had mutilated Roose Bolton. He actually craved to see her do more damage than what she had. Out of everything, Ramsay was pissed that she left him. She could have killed Roose Bolton, and Ramsay wouldn't have been as angry as he felt about her taking off. A new determination entered Ramsay. He wanted his wife back. As Reek came out with the horses, he opened his eyes. Ramsay looked at his pet, "Do you have any idea where Alyssa may have ran off to, Reek?"
"Ran off?" Reek frowned.
"Alyssa ran off nine days ago, you knew her before I did, so where would she run?" Ramsay breathed.
"She... she was close to her half-brother," Reek offered.
"The one at the Wall?" Ramsay asked.
"Yes, my Lord," Reek nodded.
"Anywhere else?" Ramsay pressed, he needed to know where all he should look first.
"There are a lot of places she could have gone," Reek twitched.
"You have no ideas?" Ramsay demanded.
"Ironrath, the Last Hearth, the Wall... and maybe even to Lady Mormont," Reek shifted.
Ramsay closed his eyes and tried to think. If he was his wife, where would he run to? The place that kept popping into his mind seemed like Alyssa would feel safest there. If he rode fast enough, he would be able to catch up to her before she reached "safety". It was going to be difficult for him to get her not to run away again once he got Alyssa back. An offer ran through his mind as he began to think of ways to keep her by him once he found her. Roose Bolton expected Ramsay to torture Alyssa. He would teach her a lesson for leaving him. He wanted to make sure that he didn't lose her again once he found her. First, he had to find her.
I thank all of you who favorites/followed/reviewed! It really does push me to write more, so inspirational! As always, the more reviews, the faster the chapters come out.
