Author's Notes: Hey everyone, sorry that it has been so long since I last updated, as always I own nothing.
After the execution the camp was quickly broken down and within the span of a few hours the army was on the march, its strength now augmented by the remaining men from White Harbor. Sansa rode at the head of her people. In addition to Yara, Alysane and Jeyne four men now rode with them. They were all knights from White Harbor who had appointed themselves her protectors. While Alysane seemed to disapprove slightly of their presence, Sansa was glad for it. The chief cause of this was the Lady Melisandre. She had been very unhappy with Theon being beheaded rather than burned and she clearly knew that Sansa was responsible for that. She had done nothing overtly but she had given Sansa several looks that, while outwardly calm, had had depths of hidden fury in them. The Queen clearly shared Lady Melisandre's views and not only was she now shunning Sansa but she had also forbidden the Princess to ride with them.
While they may not have approved it was clear that the execution had gone over well with the Northern Lords. It was nothing overt but when the King went by there seemed to be just a little more respect in the bows that they gave as the King went by. If the King noticed this he gave no indication of it, not that Sansa expected him to do so. In the time that she had spent with the King she had come to realize that he was not a man who often displayed emotion. Additionally he likely saw any deference as merely subjects giving their king his due. Not having the Princess to speak to, Sansa instead spoke with Sir Strongspear, who was part of her self-appointed honor guard.
"Tell me Sir," she said to him an hour into their journey; "Do you think that we will be able to take Winterfell?" He was silent for a moment, apparently deep in thought. After a moment he spoke.
"I am not sure my lady. His Grace has assembled a strong force but Roose Bolton has a strong force as well and loses are always heavier on the attackers than on the defenders." Sansa, remembering the Battle of Blackwater, could only nod in agreement.
"Additionally," he continued; "Though the turncloak did significant damage to Winterfell when he took it, as did the Bastard in his turn, Bolton has been working people night and day to repair them. Even damaged those wall are tall and strong." He looked around, as if to ensure himself that none of those around them were listening in to their conversation before he continued.
"I fear that if the King throws this army against the walls of Winterfell, he shall accomplish nothing save the destruction of his army." Sansa did not like the thought of that at all so she attempted to change the direction which the conversation was going.
"Is there any way to avoid that?" She asked.
"Perhaps my lady. Traditionally when confronted by such a strong castle an attacking force would settle in for a siege, starve the enemy into surrender but here that is not an option. Winter will prevent us from properly supplying our forces and there will be little or nothing to forage and we must consider the possibility of the Lannisters sending a relief force. They say that during the Age of Heroes such affairs would be settled by a duel between champions." Here he spat in disgust. "That animal Ramsey would likely take up such a challenge but his father is far too clever and cautious a man to gamble on a fair fight when he can simply remain behind the walls of Winterfell. That is one way that he benefits from our defection, he now has fewer mouths to feed while the King has more."
"My uncle told me that when the Lannisters and Freys were besieging him at Riverrun they brought up great engines to smash down the walls. Could not the King employ similar tactics?"
"He might my lady, but it may prove to be a difficult undertaking. He has no such engines with him and the construction of such things takes time and effort, even if the materials are available and the weather is not on our side for such an undertaking. We might send word to White Harbor, there are craftsmen there who can fabricate such machines but that too would take time and I do not know if they could make their way safely to Winterfell. Finally, the King might trying mining, digging a tunnel under the wall to bring down a portion of it. However; thanks to the cold weather the ground is frozen solid and any attempt at mining could take weeks to accomplish. You must also remember that while any of these are being attempted the defenders may attempt to launch a sally." Sansa looked up at the sky, while the snow had stopped and the army was able to make its way forward the clouds were gray and heavy with the threat of more snow.
"So the King may have to storm the walls after all?" The unease was clear in her voice. Sir Strongspear looked no happier than she did.
"I fear that it may very well be the case. It will be bloody and the chances of success are slim at best, but I see no other way." After that they rode in silence.
The progress of the march was slow but steady and within a few days Sansa could see Winterfell in the distance. At the sight of her home joy, an emotion which she had thought that she would never feel again, welled up inside her. Winterfell! The home of House Stark! The last place where everything had been perfect, before everything had gone wrong.
That last thought brought her joy crashing down. Winterfell had changed as much as she had and was no longer the home that she remembered. It was now held by her enemies and it seemed that it may very well remain so. Even if it were to be retaken it would not be the same. Her family was gone, her mother and father and all her brothers were dead. Her only remaining family were Jon, bound to the Wall and her sister whom none had seen since she fled the Vale. No, if she returned home she would be as lonely as she had been in King's Landing, perhaps more so with the ghosts of past happiness everywhere. Father had always to Robb that in the end a ruler was alone and now she understood what he had meant by that.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a commotion at the head of the column, where loud angry shouts could be heard. She spurred her horse forward and moved ahead of her party to see what the commotion was. The King and his guards were staring at something while men from White Harbor cursed. At first Sansa did not recognize what it was and then she saw.
It was two beams of wood fitted together to form an X. Tied to it was what she first thought was a large slab of meat but on closer inspection was revealed to be a man, or at least what had once been one. He, at least she thought it was a he, had been a fat man. All the skin had been cut off, as had the man's hands, feet and eyes. Hanging from the neck was a twine which was attached to a scrap of paper, upon which was a single word written in a spiky hand in brownish-red ink.
'WELCOME.'
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, sorry that it has been so long, I hope that this made up for it. The next will be longer, going to have to research siege warfare, if any of you are experts on the subject feel free to drop hints. Till then please pray for the victims of the earthquake in Taiwan and the people missing from an air collision near Los Angeles, the victims of the shooting in Canada and elsewhere, the Americans held abroad, all those persecuted for their faith, the sick and needy and the victims of human trafficking, which is unfortunately more now than it has ever been in history and all who need prayer. Bye and may Jesus bless you.