Chapter 26. GUILT AND CONSEQUENCES

Winter is coming! These are the words of House Stark and now they ring true as the first snow falls. Even though Tara is not from the north she puts up with the cold having spent three years at Winterfell. Tara sits on her horse feeling guilty about not telling Robb about Walder Frey. Eddard Stark is dead because of her foolish decision. She blames herself for hoping that Walder Frey had changed his mind. As she contemplated on telling Robb her mistake her men lay siege to the Dread Fort. Tara had planned the attack but was too sullen to lead it.

Her army rams the main gates and climbs the wall of the infamous castle. She sighs as an arrow lands a few feet from her horse. She is surrounded by fifty men on horseback. The hours drag on as clashing of swords slowly dies down. Then Tara's sigil is waved from the tower. She urges her horse into the main courtyard. Ramsey Snow is on his knees with twenty Bolton men.

"The Amazon! Figures the King of cowards would send his bitch!" Ramsey says, his men laugh.

Tara smiles and gets off her horse, "Ramsey Snow the bastard of the Dread Fort…What are your words? Our blades are sharp…"

He jerks his private area, "The sharpest in the land bitch!"

Tara reaches down and grabs his cock squeezing it. "Seems a little limp to me…"

He grinds his teeth, "Oh yeah! Squeeze a little harder bitch…I like it rough…"

Tara removes her hand, "You are one sick fuck…"

"Remove these chains bitch and I will show you a real man…"

Tara roars and grabs Ramsey by the neck with one hand and lifts him off his knees. His feet dangle above the ground. "Call me bitch again! I'll snap your neck like a twig…"

"B…i…t…ch!" He says gasping for air.

She drops him, "Unchain him! And give him his swords!"

They remove the chains and take Ramsey to the bear pit. Tara jumps down into the pit armed with two swords as well. They circle each other and attack at the same time. Ramsey swings his right and then his left. Tara blocks counters and spins around. Ramsey leans back and sidesteps. He thrusts forward and swings his right sword. Tara rolls forward, stops on one knee and swings for his left leg.

Ramsey raises his leg and crosses his sword blocking a thrust from Tara. "Tell me bitch! If I win what do I get?" She stands and head-butts Ramsey. As he stumbles backwards Tara cuts him on the chest. He wears no armor above his waist. Tara wears bandages to cover her breasts as she is not wearing armor above the waist.

"You draw first blood…" He says wiping the flat of his sword on the blood and licking it.

"Tell me did your treacherous father know how crazy you are?"

"I'm not crazy! I'm eccentric!"

Tara has height and reach over Ramsey, she kicks his knee causing him to stumble. It's not broken but he starts to limp. He roars and throws sword, Tara bats the sword causing it to go up into the air and throws her own sword Ramsey leans to the side as she throws the second sword. She catches him in the hip raising her hand to catch his sword out of the air. As he stumbles she throws the sword she caught out of the air, it spins towards him and slashes his throat.

Tara walks up to Ramsey as blood squirts from his slit throat. He is on his knees dying slowly, "Say high to your father bitch!" Finally Ramsey falls and dies. She looks at Hiram, "Burn it all down!" As Tara rides off the Dread Fort burns behind her.

Winterfell

Tara is on her horse watching Winterfell in the distance. She carries Ramsey Snow's severed head in a sack. "Here goes nothing." She says urging her horse forward. Tara had sent her army on to Moat Cailin. When she enters the courtyard Arya greets her. Arya had come to Winterfell for her father's funeral.

Tara finds Robb Stark the King in the North standing over his father's tomb, "I said I did not wish to be disturbed!"

Tara sighs, "It is me Robb!" He looks at her then returns his attention to his father's statue, "I bring you the head of Ramsey Snow…" He keeps his eyes on the statue. Tara drops the severed head in the bag, "I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you the day I learned it." She pauses taking a deep breath, "Its my fault your father is dead…" Robb frowns and looks at Tara. "Cersei sent me a letter…She betrayed her father's secret. In the letter she reveals Walder Frey's offer to betray you…I didn't know how to handle it…Or I should say I handled it wrong…I was trying to ferret out any allies that may have been helping him. I didn't think Walder Frey would go through with his plan until we reached the Twins…I didn't even know about Roose Bolton until he actually struck…I am sorry Robb and I ask your forgiveness…"

He just stares at Tara with tears running down his cheeks. Robb sneers and returns his attention to his father's statue. Tara waits for the next hour or more. "Leave Winterfell!" Robb says without looking at her, "Leave now and never come back here!"

Tara bows, "Your grace!" Tara leaves the crypts and gets on her horse. Some of the Stark men look confused at her sudden departure.

Robb asks that his mother and wife meet him in the study. As he is walking towards the study he is stopped by Arya. "Where is Tara?"

He sighs holding back the tears, "I sent her away!"

"But why? I am her ward…She is teaching me to be a warrior!" Arya says passionately.

"You can learn that here." Robb replies with a shuddering voice.

"No I can't! You know how mother is! She will make me do sowing and all that lady shit I hate!"

"I am your brother I know what is best!" Robb replies and walks past Arya with her eyes boring into the back of his skull. When he enters the study he immediately tells Catelyn and Talisa Stark what Tara did.

"What are you going to do?" Talisa asks.

"I don't know!" Robb sadly admits.

"Send her away!" Cat barks, "My husband! Your father is dead because of her!" She walks up to Robb, "Strip her of her lands and titles…"

"No!" Talisa yells rubbing her stomach, "Tara saved my life! And that of our unborn child's…We would all be dead if not for her…"

"She betrayed us!" Catelyn replies vehemently.

Robb stands up as both women make their points, "I know! I know all this! Part of me wishes to summon my banners and burn her in that castle…The other part of me wants to give her my crown and make her Queen of the North…" Arya had been listening the whole time and runs to the stables steals a horse and leaves.

Moat Cailin

Upon returning to Moat Cailin Tara calls her small council together and her mother to inform them of what transpired with the King of the North. "Perhaps we should leave while we can…Robb Stark may get it into his head to declare war on us…"

"And go where?" Adeline asks.

"Essos of course one of the free cities…" Tolass leans in, "You have many admirers in the east…You would be welcomed as a Queen…"

Tara looks at Akbar, "You've been quiet…"

"My Khaleesi acted with honor…If the Snow King is blind to that then Akbar says he is a King of fools…If they want a war let us give them one…"

Tara listens for another hour then dismisses them. Two days later a messenger arrives at Moat Cailin. "By command of the King in the North…Lady Clegane you are stripped of all titles and lands…The King bids you pack all your possessions and leave Moat Cailin with all haste…You have one week to comply…Safe passage will be given to you all the way to White Harbor…Disobey this command and the King will summon his banners…"

Tara stands up, "Tell the King in the North we will be gone before the deadline…" Within two days Tara's army and servants march out of Moat Cailin. She rides up to her mother and stepfather in a wagon. "I ride to the Twins…Wait for me in White Harbor…"

The Twins

Sandor Clegane and Brienne Clegane nee' Tarth walk beside Tara in the courtyard listening, "He is an idiot!" Sandor says and stops in front of Tara. "You are returning to Meereen aren't you?"

Tara smiles, "In a manner of speaking…"

Sandor looks at Brienne and nods, "Then we are coming with you."

"Don't be rediculous…"

He shakes his head, "I told you before little sister…I follow you…I accepted this from Edmure Tully because of you and Brienne my wife…" He looks at Brienne and pulls her in, "I would follow you into the seven hells…" The next day Sandor and the two thousand men under his command along with the servants leave the Twins.