Game Of Thrones:Lady Blackthorne

CHAPTER 28

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.

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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.