As they rode from the courtyard Ramsay turned his horse, stopped and grazed his lips to her hand.

"I will return soon sweet wife" his words were empty and meaningless but it seemed all of Winterfell watched.

The moment they were gone Sansa sent word to little finger, a hastily scrawled note attached to the leg of Ramsay favourite raven. He'd taken his favourite men with him, leaving only a handful to watch her and his precious dogs. From the few conversations she had managed to overhear, they would be gone for the better part of two weeks and she had work to do in that time.

"Walda, shall we lunch together today?" Sansa called out as the fat woman began to wobble away.

"That would be nice, I do hate being alone. I grew up with many siblings, I was never alone at home."

Sansa saw Myranda, stood on the foothold of the wall, watching Ramsay long into the distance.

"Myranda" she snapped, breaking the girls fixed attention "You will serve us lunch. Come."

"Of course" Myranda scowled

Sansa hurried back to her chamber and prayed that the herbs she had asked for had been delivered. The third night she had been here she had caught one of the laundry women alone, Loyal servants would mutter "The North Remembers" quietly whenever they encountered her alone. An open invitation for her to request help if she needed it. A constant reminder that she was not alone here. The moment the woman had muttered the words she'd practically pounced on her with the...unusual request. The woman had nodded, looking at her with sad eyes, shaking her head as she glanced down to her flat stomach.

"I will help you Lady Stark" and with that she had taken her leave.

If the North truly did remember then she would be successful in her plan, if the North did not and she was found out her head would hang over the gates of Winterfell. Either way she had no other option.

Sansa dropped to her knees by the bed and felt underneath amongst the ropes that held the stuffed mattress taught. Her heart raced when she felt it. The little brown cloth bag. An hour later she sat embroidering by her window, her heart raced as she heard Myranda enter with a tray of tea and cakes from the Kitchen. No doubt Walda would arrive any second. Reek skulked outside the door, Ramsay would have taken him to the Dreadfort but Roose had stood firm, flaunting his pet was bad taste.

Myranda placed the tray down in front of Sansa.

"Thank you Myranda, let Lady Bolton know lunch has arrived and that I await her"

"Of course" Myranda sighed and Sansa watched slyly as she left the room. The moment she was alone Sansa pulled the small brown bag from her sleeve and sprinkled the herbs into the teapot, waiting for them to dissolve before pouring some of her own tepid water into the pot.

By the time Walda appeared followed by Myranda, Sansa was once again sat by her window embroidering, she glanced up with a smile the tray seemingly untouched.

"Walda, I'm afraid with our husbands away we must spend our time together. Else we will be rather lonely."

Walda smiled and nodded. Deceit did not suit Walda Frey, it never had done even when Sansa had known her as a child. The afternoon began uncomfortably Walda's conscience clearly paining her.

"Have another cake, try the raspberry tart" Sansa encouraged her.

Walda seemed to very much enjoy the kitchen's cakes. She reminded Sansa that she was now eating for two and Sansa smiled sweetly. She could have been eating for eight and the amount wouldn't have been justified. Myranda poured the tea. Sansa tried to busy herself with embroidery and not starring at the cup placed in front of her. As Walda raised her cup to her lips, Sansa raised her own, pressed her lip to the pot and forced herself to swallow air without allowing any of the liquid into her mouth.

She recoiled with a frown, "Myranda, it's tepid."

Sansa looked to Walda but just as she'd predicted, her cup was almost empty.

" I prefer it cooled" Walda offered

Myranda took Sansa's full cup.

"It can't be, I made it myself in the kitchen and it was steaming hot when I brought it in"

"Are you calling me a liar Myranda? Try it for yourself" This hadn't been part of Sansa's plan but it couldn't hurt. The last thing she needed was another Bolton bastard being brought into the mix. Myranda took a few greedy gulps before looking incuriously at the cup.

"You're right, I'll fetch more."

"As long as Lady Walda is happy then I will content myself with wine. I'm not a fan of tea, it was plied on us in Kings Landing, I grew sick of it."

Late into the night Sansa lay awake waiting for it to happen. It was a strange feeling, as though she were finally taking control of her own life. She should feel guilty but she didn't, not at all. Cold anticipation filled her with fear and excitement. She must had drifted into a light sleep as her mouth was dry when she opened her eyes to a loud knock on her door. Springing from the bed she opened it to find reek stood shaking in her doorway. He stuttered as she watched him, poor reek missed his master. It was a shame Roose allow him flaunted.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Lady Bolton, is unwell. The Maeester is with her can I send for Lord Bolton?" he mumbled.

"No, I don't think so reek. Let's wait and see what happens shall we?" god, she sounded like Ramsay for a spit second.

"Ok" Reek shifted on the spot.

"Reek, do you miss your master?"

"…Yes" he stuttered

"As do I reek and whilst he is gone you and I are going to protect him. You will help me protect him won't you Reek?" Sansa opened the door, allowing reek to step in side.

He nodded eagerly as she continued "There are people in Winterfell who want to harm him reek, it's up to us to make sure that doesn't happen."