Outside Winterfell's outskirts, Jon, Sansa, Davos, Tormund, Lyanna Mormont, and some Stark bannermen sit on horseback, waiting. Ramsay, Harald Karstark, Smalljon Umber, and a group of Bolton soldiers approach on horseback. They come to a halt in front of Jon and company.

Jon softly said to Sansa, "You don't have to be here."

Sansa said back, "Yes, I do."

Ramsay said smugly, "My beloved soon to be wife. I've waited to see you for a while now."

Ramsay looks at Jon. Ramsay says smirking, "Thank you for giving me Lady Sansa safely. Now, dismount and kneel before me, surrender your army and proclaim me the true Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I will pardon you for deserting the Night's Watch. I will pardon these treasonous lords for betraying my house. Come, bastard, you don't have the men, you don't have the horses, and you don't have Winterfell. Why lead those poor souls into slaughter? There's no need for a battle. Get off your horse and kneel. I'm a man of mercy."

Jon said, "You're right. There's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this the old way. You against me." Ramsay chuckles.

Ramsay said confidently, "I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. The way people in the North talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman who ever walked. Maybe you are that good. Maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you. But I know that my army will beat yours. I have 6,000 men. You have, what, half that? Not even?"

Jon said confidently back, "Aye, you have the numbers. Will your men want to fight for you when they hear you wouldn't fight for them?" Ramsay points at Jon.

Ramsay says smugly and sarcastically, "He's good. Very good. Tell me, will you let your little brother die because you're too proud to surrender?"

Sansa said, "How do we know you have him?" Ramsay nods to Smalljon. Smalljon pulls Shaggydog's head out from a satchel and throws it on the ground.

Ramsay said, "Now, if you want to save —"

Sansa said with hate in her voice, "You're going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well." Sansa turns her horse and rides away.

Ramsay said to Jon, "She's a fine woman, your sister. I look forward to having her in my bed. And you're all fine-looking men. My dogs are desperate to meet you. I haven't fed them for seven days. They're ravenous. I wonder which parts they'll try first. Your eyes? Your balls? We'll find out soon enough. In the morning, then, bastard." Ramsay and company ride back towards Winterfell. Jon looks down.

—--

In the encampment conference tent, Jon, Davos, Tormund, Aldarra and Sansa are standing around a planning table.

Jon said, "If he was smart, he'd stay inside the walls of Winterfell and wait us out."

Davos said, "That's not his way. He knows the North is watching. If the other houses sense weakness on his part, they'll stop fearing him. He can't have that. Fear is his power."

Jon said, "It's his weakness, too. His men don't want to fight for him. They're forced to fight for him. If they feel the tide turning…"

Tormund said, "It's not his men that worry me. It's his horses. I know what mounted knights can do to us." Tormund looks at Davos.

Tormund said, "You and Stannis cut through us like piss through snow."

Jon said, "We're digging trenches all along our flanks. They won't be able to hit us the way that Stannis hit you, in a double envelopment." Tormund stares blankly at Jon.

Jon said, "A pincer move." Tormund stares blankly at Jon. Jon and Davos look at each other briefly.

Jon explained, "They won't be able to hit us from the sides."

Aldarra said, "It also will be a place to go when the dragon fire occurs. Your men on that side take cover if I haven't burned half of Ramsay's men in my first shot before the attack. Make sure you wait until I come over the mountain and swoop down to burn them and not you. After that it will be hitting them from behind and avoiding our people."

Tormund said, "Good."

Davos said, "It's crucial that we let them charge at us after the dragon strike or we have to proceed in chase. They've got the numbers, we need the patience to get that reduced first. If we let him charge first, he'll pursue. Then we'll have him surrounded on three sides or you'll have a larger ground to burn them up in because they will be scattered."

Tormund said to Jon, "Did you really think that cunt would fight you man to man?"

Jon said, "No. But I wanted to make him angry. I want him to come at us full tilt."

Davos said, "We should all get some sleep."

Aldarra said, "He's a cowardly bastard. Better double the guards to be sure he doesn't send a raiding party in the dark."

Tormund said, "Rest, Jon Snow and Aldarra. We need you both sharp tomorrow." Davos, Tormund, and any remaining attendants but Aldarra and Sansa. Jon sits down at the head of the table.

Sansa said, "So you've met the enemy, drawn up your battle plans."

Jon said, "Aye, for what they're worth."

Sansa said, "You've known him for the space of a single conversation, you and your trusted advisors, and you sit around and make your plans on how to defeat a man you don't know."

Aldarra said, "I know the way his mind works. I know how he likes to hurt people. Did it ever once occur to you that I might have some insight? I've met people like this before."

Jon said, "You're right."

Aldarra said, "You think he's going to fall into your trap? He won't. He's the one who lays traps to hope you're arrogant enough to be confident."

Jon said, "He's overconfident."

Aldarra said emphatically, "No, Jon, he plays with people. He's far better at it than you because you're honorable. He's been doing it all his life like a game." Jon stands.

Jon said angrily, "Aye, and what have I been doing all my life? Playing with broomsticks? I fought beyond the Wall against worse than Ramsay Bolton. I've defended the Wall from worse than Ramsay Bolton."

Aldarra said, "You don't know people who think like him."

Jon said exasperatedly, "All right, tell me. What should we do? How do we get Rickon back?"

Aldarra said, "We'll maybe never get him back. Rickon is Ned Stark's trueborn son, which makes him a greater threat to Ramsay than you, as a bastard, or Sansa, as a girl. As long as he lives, Ramsay's claim to Winterfell will be contested, which means he won't live long when the battle starts. If we can get to him it will be a lucky shot."

Jon said sadly, "We can't just give up on our brother."

Aldarra stood right in front of him and looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Listen to me, Jon. He is counting on you to make a mistake if you let your emotions take over. To react emotionally, will cause you to make an error. Keep rational and sensible. Trust me, it will help you."

Jon sighs rubbing his brow and says, "Of course he wants me to misstep. What should I do differently?"

Aldarra said, "I am sorry for your little brother. Just don't do what he wants you to do, or you fall into his trap of games."

Jon said, "Aye, that's good advice."

Sansa asked, "You think that is being obvious?"

Jon said, "Well, it is a bit obvious to do the opposite."

Sansa said upset, "If you had asked for my advice earlier, I would have told you not to attack Winterfell until we have a larger force, or is that obvious, too?"

Jon said, "When will we have a larger force, Sansa?! We've pleaded with every house that'll have us! The Blackfish can't help us! We're lucky to have this many men!"

Sansa yells, getting upset, "It's not enough!"

Jon yells back, "Now, it's not enough! It's what we have! Battles have been won against greater odds."

Sansa said, "If Ramsay wins, I'm not going there alive. Do you understand me?"

Jon said, "We won't ever let him touch you. We'll both protect you, I promise."

Sansa said, "I hope so." Sansa leaves the tent. Jon turns, looks at Aldarra, and sighs.

Aldarra said softly, "She's scared of the battle, Rickon, you, me, and most of all Ramsay Bolton. Don't be upset with her. She wants a sure win and battles don't work like that. Anything could go wrong, we know and realize that, no matter what happens with your brother tomorrow. I'll see if I can interfere." Aldarra takes out a looking glass on a long leather thong showing it to Jon.

Aldarra said, "I'll be watching everything like a hawk."

Jon said looking in her eyes, "Thank you for everything Aldarra, I consider you a good friend to me." Aldarra smiled and patted his shoulder and walked out of the tent.

—--

Davos and Tormund are walking together through the encampment.

Davos said, "You think there's hope?"

Tormund said, "I've never seen these Bolton fuckers fight. And they've never seen the free folk fight, so, yes, there's hope. The dragon will be a sight to see in a battle. You want to avenge your king, don't you?"

Davos said, "It wasn't the Boltons who defeated Stannis. It was Stannis himself. I loved the man. He lifted me up and made me something. But he had demons in his skull whispering foul things."

Tormund asked curiously, "You saw these demons?"

Davos said, "What?" They stop walking. Davos looks at Tormund.

Davos said, "No, it's a manner of speaking. Not actual demons, but dark thoughts."

Tormund said, "Oh. Well, you loved that cunt Stannis and I loved the man he burned. Mance didn't have demons in his skull. He didn't torch people or listen to some red witch. I believed in him. I thought he was the man to lead us through the Long Night. But I was wrong just like you."

Davos said, "Maybe that was our big mistake, believing in kings."

Tormund said, "Jon Snow's not a king."

Davos said, "No, he's not." Tormund and Davos smile at each other.

Tormund said, "I need a good drink to help me sleep the night before a fight. You want some? I have a jug of sour goat's milk stronger than any of that grape water you southern twats like sucking on."

Davos said, "No, thanks. It does sound delicious, but I better keep a clear head. I can never sleep the night before a battle."

Tormund asks, "So what do you do all night?"

Davos said, "I walk. Think and walk. Think and walk until I'm far enough away from camp that no one can hear me shitting my guts out." Tormund laughs.

Tormund said smirking, "Happy shitting." Tormund walks away.

—--

Melisandre is sitting at a desk with a mirror and candles on it, staring into a fire pit. Jon enters and approaches her.

Jon says, "My lady. You weren't at the war council."

She said, "I'm not a soldier."

Jon said, "Any advice?"

She said, "Don't lose."

Jon said, "If I do, if I fall, don't bring me back."

Melisandre said, "I'll have to try."

Jon said, "I'm ordering you not to bring me back."

She said, "I am not your servant, Jon Snow."

Jon said, "You're in my camp. I'm the commander."

She said, "I serve the Lord of Light. I do what he commands."

Jon said, "How do you know what he commands?"

Melisandre said, "I interpret his signs as well as I can. If the Lord didn't want me to bring you back, how did I bring you back? I have no power. Only what he gave me and he gives me you."

Jon asked, "Why?"

She said, "I don't know. Maybe you're only needed for this small part of his plan and nothing else. Maybe he brought you here to die again."

Jon said, "What kind of god would do something like that?"

She said, "The one we've got." Jon stares into the fire pit and then leaves her tent.