DAGGERS TO THE HEART Part 2 - CLASH OF THE KINGS

Jon XII

The afternoon sun trickled through the large windows in the Great Hall, as the Lords and Ladies returned from the break, after being served hot beef stew accompanied by White Harbor ale. The latter added laughter to the chatter as they filed into the hall and took their seats.

This time, the top table was arranged slightly differently. Lady Stark and Theon sat at a table at the side, along with Rickon. As this was Ramsay's trial, the only ones at the top table were Lord Stark, Jon and Sansa.

Sat at the table opposite Lady Stark and Theon, were the witnesses. They were Robb, Tormund, and Sam. Sansa herself would act as a witness. Jon was officially the offended party, as Sansa was his wife. With Ramsay as a bastard, hers and Robb's words should be enough in the eyes of the Lords, even if Tormund's word wasn't trusted. Sam was to read the injuries sustained by both Sansa and Ser Barristan.

Stood at the end of the hall were two guards. Once everyone was settled and quiet, Lord Stark nodded to the two men. It was time for them to collect Ramsay from the dungeons. Jon ran his fingers through Ghost's fur, to quell his anger. From under the table, Sansa grabbed hold of his other hand and squeezed it. He turned to her and tried to give her a reassuring smile. She had twice been through hell and back with Ramsay Snow. Jon was going to put an end to him once and for all.

Ramsay was wheeled in on a barrow as he could no longer walk without a stick since his ankle had been chewed off. Letting him near a walking aid would be dangerous, thus he had to be pushed around and shackled to a wheelbarrow.

Once he was in front of the table, which was perched on the dais, Lord Stark began. "Ramsay Snow, natural born son of Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort, I accuse you of the following crimes; the attempted rape of my daughter, Lady Sansa Whitestark, the attempted murder of Ser Barristan Selmy, the murder of several Freefolk in the Gift. How do you plead?"

Ramsay rolled his eyes. "Not guilty," he sneered. "Nobody saw me do anything to either Ser Barristan or your precious little daughter."

Ghost bared his teeth at Ramsay. Greywind and even the ever-placid Lady growled at him.

"Our wolves were there," Jon smiled.

"What do wolves have to do with it, other than biting my ankle off, bastard," Ramsay spat.

Jon didn't flinch at the insult, after all, he wasn't a bastard. Even if he was, he'd learned to use the name as a shield. However, he would resort to such pettiness with Ramsay, tempting as it was.

"They have everything to do with it," Jon replied. "My wolf tore off your ankle. He was protecting my wife, his mistress."

"That beast is wild, just like the rest of them."

"The wolves are well trained and wouldn't hurt anyone unless they harmed one of their pack," Lord Stark said. "I'm sure everyone in this room can attribute to that. After all, they have been marvelling, mingling and petting the wolves ever since the Lords and Ladies arrived for the meeting." A mixture of voices murmured in agreement throughout the room.

"It is my word against hers," Ramsay snorted.

"The word of a bastard versus that of a highborn Lady," Jon raised an eyebrow. "You were found by her brother, Lord Robb, a highborn heir who will inherit not only Winterfell but will become warden of the north."

Ramsay laughed in that manic way of his. "It is a setup. I was trying to help the young Lady. She was accosted by Stark soldiers, who tried to rape her. I saved her life," he said with pride in his voice. "The wolf mistook me for being her attacker. I fear Lady Sansa misremembers the incident. She has likely blocked out the attempt on her life. It is not uncommon."