Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad that you liked the last chapter and I hope you like this one as well, as always I own nothing. SLIGHT SPOILERS.
Sansa returned to her body with a jolt and clutched at her head and willed the pain from the sensation of the hound dying to pass. It stabbed into her mind like red-hot needles being driven into her brain through her temples, never the less she forced herself to inhale and exhale slowly and the pain gradually faded away. This done she rose shakily to her feet and began to make her way back to the camp. Her actions had left her far too drained to attempt to control another animal, let alone a person, for the foreseeable future and she could do no more to aid in the battle. Still, she felt that she had done her part to ensure victory, she had put the plan in motion which had led to the King getting the army into Winterfell and it had looked as if they were winning when she had been forced to leave, with luck her home would be back in Stark hands by morning. She just had to get back to camp and await word before her absence was considered too long.
She returned to her tent, pleased to see that no one seemed to think that she had been gone for an unusually long period of time and that Jeyne had fallen asleep. Sansa settled down to wait for news of the battle. She did not have to wait long before men began to return and cheers of victory were heard. She waited patiently and eventually Alysane returned to the tent. Her armor bore signs of damage and she looked winded, winded but also exhilarated.
"We have done it my lady! Winterfell is ours!" Sansa leaned forward, feigning surprise and an eagerness for details, the latter of which was not feigned.
"Tell me everything! Leave out no details!"
"As the Ironborn suggested, we climbed the wall and we were able to climb the wall and make our way to the gates without being seen. It was lightly guarded and we were able to take it without difficulty and open the gates. We took the enemy completely off guard and the King was able to get through the gates before the enemy was able to rally and retake the gate. The enemy put up a fierce fight but were unable to hold us back and Winterfell was taken." Though she sounded exuberant, there seemed to be something in her tone which made Sansa uneasy.
"Is there something the matter?" She asked the other woman, who nodded.
"The battle was easier than expected and we know why. Roose Bolton was not there my lady."
"WHAT?!" Sansa cried, in a voice so loud that it caused Jeyne to stir in her sleep. She settled down again but it caused Sansa to lower her voice to a normal level.
"What do you mean he was not there?"
"Gone, I fear that is all that I know my lady." Sansa nodded.
"What of the Ironborn woman?"
"She was injured my lady and was with the healers last I saw of her." Seeing how tired Alysane was Sansa dismissed her to get some rest. She herself found that she could not sleep and so, several hours after the army had begun to return, she went in search of answers. She went to her uncle's tent and was pleased to see that he had already risen, having only taken a brief nap upon his return.
"The King has called a council or I would still be sleeping." He told her with a rueful smile.
"Lady Mormont told me that Roose Bolton was not there." Sansa said, coming right to the point, he nodded in agreement.
"He was not. It seems that after your friend fled Winterfell and the defeat of the Freys at the village he must have decided that Winterfell could not be held he and his wife returned to the Dreadfort with the majority of his own banner men and the Frey and left Winterfell to be held by his son and contingents from other Northern lords loyal to him, mostly from Houses Ryswell, Hornwood and Dustin."
"How were our loses?" Sansa asked, feeling she had to ask though she did not want to know the answer.
"Not as bad as they could have been thanks to Lord Umber's strategy, far less if we had had to storm the walls. The men from White Harbor went first, they instated on it to avenge their lord and they took the heaviest loses, including Sir Strongspear. Sir Suggs is also dead and Lady Yara took a nasty wound to the belly and I have no idea whether she will live or even if she is now.
"The enemy put up a stout resistance and many of them fell. Except for the men of House Hornwood, they seemed quite willing to throw down their arms as soon as the opportunity. The King was speaking with their leader when I left and I would not be surprised to see them marching with us as they seem to have no love of the Boltons."
"You said that Roose's son was leading the defense, what became of him?" Her uncle's expression became grim.
"He was wounded and made captive. He may or may not survive his wounds but it matters little, he will keep long enough for the King's purpose. The Red Woman has declared that he is to burn on the morrow at first light and we are all to attend."
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hope you liked it a bit short but there you are. What did you think of having Roose not be there, never easy is it? Do you think that it was keeping him in character? Next will be another less than action-packed chapter. Things to organize, deciding who goes where, typical admin stuff but hopefully the company BBQ will be ok. Till then please pray for Christian in Nigeria who are being persecuted and all who suffer for their faith, including Shafqat Emmanuel and his wife Shagufta Kauser and Asia Bibi all convicted of violating Pakistan blasphemy law and their families and all Christian is Pakistan. Tim Remington, a pastor shot at his church, the sick, homeless and all who need prayer. Thanks and may Jesus bless you.