Chapter 5: As Bad As They Say

That evening, Roose Bolton watched his son pace around the candle lit room. "How can you be sure?" He asked suddenly.

"Sure of what?" He asked, confused at his son's sudden outburst.

Ramsay gave him a look. "That she's pregnant. I mean how can you tell?" He mocked Walda's large figure.

Roose rolled his eyes. "Maester Wolkan has assured us beyond all doubt."

"So how did you manage it?" His son wondered. The warden of the north wasn't exactly sure if he was being serious or not.

"Manage what?" He sighed, almost exasperated.

Ramsay raised an eyebrow. "Getting her pregnant."

"I imagine you're familiar with the procedure." He retorted.

"Of course, but how did you find it?" A small, yet amused smile graced his lips as he spoke, causing Roose to loose his patience.

He glared at his son. "You disgraced yourself at dinner parading that creature before the Stark girls." He snapped.

Ramsay shrugged as though it was nothing, still thinking about the news. "And if it's a boy?" He asked seriously.

This made Roose chuckle in realisation. "You're worried about your position."

Ramsay's gaze finally met his own and his icy blue eyes seemed to pierce right through his. "My position is quite clear." He stated. "I'm your son until a better alternative comes along."

"You've never asked me about your mother." Roose said after a brief moment of awkward silence.

Ramsay frowned. "Why would I? She had me, she died... And here we are."

"She was a peasant girl. Pretty in a common sort of way." Roose ignored Ramsay's comment. "She was the miller's wife. Apparently they had married without my knowledge or consent. So I had him hanged and I took her beneath the tree where he was swaying. She fought me the whole time. She was lucky I didn't hang her, too. A year later she came to my gates with a squalling baby in her arms. A baby she claimed was mine. I nearly had her whipped and the child thrown in the river... But then I looked at you and I saw then what I see now..." He sighed. "You are my son."

Ramsay nodded, not as concerned about his position. Roose stood up from his chair and placed his hands of the table, staring into his son's eyes. "Stannis Baratheon has an army at Castle Black. But he won't stay for long. He wants the Iron Throne, and the road to King's Landing comes right through Winterfell. He means to take the North."

"But the North is ours." Ramsay almost growled.

"It's yours and mine. Will you help me defeat him?"

"Yes."

Lyrianna slowly approached her sister's room, her heart beating faster with every step she took.

She knocked gently on the door. There was no answer, yet Lyria knew that Sansa was in there. "Are you okay?" She asked softly through the door.

Her voice was as sweet as honey, yet mixed with caution as if her sister was going to yell at her.

"Sansa..."

She started, but the door creaked open, revealing her sister, who gestured for her to come in. Her eyes stared right through Lyrianna as though she didn't know her.

As slowly as it opened, the door was closed, making a slight click as Sansa turned around to face her sister."How could you? Theon betrayed us... And you're letting him walk you down the aisle? Why would you-?!"

Lyrianna let a stray tear fall down her cheek, remembering how broken Theon actually was. "You don't understand-"

"Then explain it to me." Her eyes were wide and almost on the verge of tears. "He killed our brothers..."

She bit her lip. "I-I know... But Ramsay... He's... You've heard the rumours, right?"

Sansa nodded, "Yes." She replied shortly. "I admit he scars me... But the rumours were worse, surely he isn't as bad as they say... I mean this morning, he wasn't-"

"You've only been around him while his father was there, keeping an eye on him." Lyria sighed. "The rumours are all true, Sansa... He's... You saw him when Walda announced that she was pregnant... He looked like he wanted to kill her."

Her sister walked over to her and held her hand. "You're just stressed because this is the second time you've been arranged to marry... Tyrion wasn't so bad was he? He was kind to you." She stated.

She nodded. "Sansa, Tyrion isn't Ramsay... That bastard hurt my maid. He burnt down her house, made her watch as he flayed her parents. What kind of a monster does that?"

Sansa frowned. "Really? Because my maid says he's very good to her. For all you know your maid lied to you."

"Myla wasn't lying... She terrified of him..." Lyria's eyes widened. "Wait... Your maid said what? Who is she?"

"Her name is Myranda." Sansa stated. "She told me how Ramsay punished Theon for what he did to our brothers. You should be grateful."

Lyrianna frowned. Her sister was never this cold towards her. "Sansa you haven't seen what he did... Theon isn't... He isn't Theon anymore." She whispered. "Please, you don't-

"Just go." Sansa snapped, opening the door again.

Please review! Let me know what you think Myranda will do in this story?! I updated before ten reviews because it's just been too long a wait.