Sansa slipped the brown cloth bag into reek waiting palm and whispered in his ear her instructions.
"and reek… if you tell anyone, I will tell Ramsay that you offered to help me escape whilst he was gone."
Reeks face fell in horror.
"…I don't want to do that reek but I will have to, if you let me down. You won't let me down, will you?"
Reek shook his head and left Sansa's chamber quietly.
Sansa wrapped her woollen shawl tight around her, she had business to attend to inside the walls of Winterfell today. Lady Walda lay dying and Sansa had a part to play, it was only moments before she reached the dark chamber. It smelt like decay and pain as she slipped inside to see the woman writhing in agony and crying out from her bed. Sansa sat dutifully by Walda's side while the Masteer did his best to save the child. His attempts were futile, quickly his focus moved to saving Walda's own life but again, he would not succeed. Perhaps if she had been in better health herself it would have been different Sansa thought as she watched the scene. Sansa felt only pity for Walda while she watched her fade away from this world. Pity Lord Frey would not have felt for her mother and brother when he slaughtered them. Almost a week of suffering finally came to an end and Sansa closed Lady Walda's eyes for the last time.
Outside the chamber she stood meekly as the Maesteer spoke with a six strong band of Roose's men. Roose and Ramsay had finally been sent for yesterday, when all hope had finally been lost for the child's life. Sansa knew these men, they had grown in the villages around Winterfell, their fathers had served hers own loyally, once. Since the day she had arrived they had watched her, observing her uncomfortably, back in her rightful home. Sansa only hoped she had been right in her understanding, only time would tell.
The Maesteer was grave, "This was no accident Lady Walda suffered a violent reaction to poison. No doubt given to her as an attack on the child's life." Sansa's face contorted in pretence of disbelief.
"Who would do such a thing?" she gasped.
The Maesteer, who she had also known since childhood, a long time servant of Winterfell took her hands "Oh my dear Lady Sansa, there are evils in this world, a Lady such as you should never see."
The largest of the guards, who she knew to be called John, moved his hand to his sword. "Who did this?"
His question was not aimed at anyone but Sansa took her cue and raised her hand to her mouth, horrified, "Lady Bolton ate lunch with me in my Chamber the day she was taken ill. I ate and drank the same as she did but I am fine. The only other person there was Myranda she served us but now I recall I haven't seen her in several days…"
Without another word the guards stormed down the corridor, heading to Myranda's small room near the kitchen…Sansa smiled to herself with glee. They wouldn't find her… no one would.
Later that night when the guard held the small brown cloth bag of herbs in front of her and the Measteer, it was confirmed. Reek told the guard how he had seen Myranda flee the walls of Winterfell under the cover of night, days ago. A search party was mounted on horse back and sent in the direction he gave. Myranda would be caught and thrown on the mercy of the Bolton men when they returned. If only they knew where Myranda really was.
Sansa retired to her chamber, to recover from the awful events of the day. Reek slipped inside every hour to whisper silent updates to her. Roose and Ramsay would arrive home tomorrow. The eyes of Winterfell now lay firmly on the benevolent Lady Sansa, a strong, loyal, northern direwolf who stayed by her Kin until the very end. This would be her home again, her Winterfell and then everything she had done would be worth it. When the sun set she lay on her bed and drifted into an undisturbed sleep.
Sansa woke to warmth curled around her feet, Reek but have joined her during the night and lay at her feet like a dog.
"What time is it?" she asked
"It was dawn before I came in" he said.
"Damn it!" She scrambled to the edge of the bed, she had to dress. Roose and Ramsay would be here soon.
"Don't worry Reek, you have done well and I will make sure your master knows that."
His eyes sparked at the thought. Lifting herself from the bed Sansa pulled her shawl over her night dress, her gown would have to wait, there was no time to waste. "Take me to her reek."
The bowels of the Winterfell dungeon were pitch black. They bore the same smell they always had, a mixture of fresh soil and horses, these were familiar tunnels, the ones she had played in as a child. It the deepest corner lay a door, so well matched to the wall it was almost invisible, unless you knew it was there. Rob and Reek had once locked John inside and left him there until he missed dinner, that was back when reek was Theon Sansa thought as she followed the broken man through the tunnels. That felt like a long time ago now. She heard the whimpering before she opened the door and it stopped the moment she entered. Her footsteps made a dull thud as she entered the room and waited as reek lit the torches.
"How good of you to join us" Sansa said.
The girl hung in the room, arms tied together above her head and toes barely touching the dirt floor. Her dress was covered in blood from the waist down. If Myranda had been carrying Ramsay's child then she wasn't anymore.
"Apologies about that" Sana glanced down at the blood stains. "You never can be too careful and bastards are a dangerous business when they're Bolton."
Myranda's eyes widened as she whimpered in fear. Sansa stood strong her flame red hair burning as she glared at the helpless girl… now this, she was enjoying. Reek stumbled in the background, cowering against the wall.
"Reek.." she spoke loudly her voice cutting through the dark. "Heel" she pointed to the ground by her feet as she watched his slender body slink toward her and fall to the ground. "Good reek" she muttered as Myranda watched.
Slowly she ran her fingers over the skin of her arm "Are you scared Myranda?" her voice was soft, almost soothing as the girl tried to speak, the rag in her mouth stopping her.
"Just nod"
Myranda nodded.
"Do you suppose this is how those girls you hunted felt?"
Myranda nodded.
"Ramsay is a monster Myranda. A monster who can't help himself, there's something wrong with him. Do you know what's even worse than a monster who can't help themselves?"
Myranda shook her head.
"A monster who can. There's nothing wrong with you Myranda, you chose to be like him, to please him. I could bring his dogs down here and let you suffer the same fate as those girls did but I have another use for you. If you behave, you may be allowed a quick death"
Myranda screamed thrashing against her ties, "Oh Myranda, don't be scared, I was showing you a kindness after all, there are a great many things worse than death."