Flayer

7.Edda

I got up before everyone else.

Pulling on a simple dress and boots and snatching my cloak I sneaked out of my broken tower.

I'm getting out of here, I told myself, I'm going North where the wildlings are, even they are better than the Boltons.

No one was awake, and the gates were closed and locked. I stared at the sky as the sun began to rise, dreading not trying to escape in the dark of night.

To my left was an axe, and to my right the rope that kept one of the gates up. As so as I was about to take my first hesitant step towards the weapon, I heard someone.

Gasping, I ran towards the open, barred door of the stables and closed it behind me, panting yet covering my mouth so no one could hear.

It took me a while to realize that most of the stables did not have horses, but hounds. They woke up at the smell of me, and started to bark. Their howls were so terrifying I shivered in fright, clutching my cloak and sitting on hay, covering my ears.

They're going to know I'm here, I thought, they're going to beat me, or-or torture me, or-or-

Suddenly, I felt someone's hand on my shoulder.

I jumped up, almost screaming when I realized it was Ramsay.

"It's alright," he said, shushing the dogs with a whistle of his cold lips. He turned to me again "Up so early, my bride?"

I held my tongue, cautious about my next words. "I rise like the sun does, early and curiously"

Ramsay did something I did not expect: He smiled, not smirked. "Do the hounds frighten you?"

"A... A little, my lord," I confessed, steadying my breathing.

"I hope you forgive them," he said, taking out a knife from his cloak and twirling it in his fingers. My small chances of comfort in his presence were diminished "They're used to hunting girls like you, not befriending them"

I watched the knife closely, shivering with fear. The only thing I could think of was the way it twisted and turned so close to my nose.

Suddenly the young Bolton boy put down the knife, looking at me with cold blue eyes. "Do I frighten you?"

My lips trembled, and my heart pounded harder against my chest.

He smirked, raising his hands slowly and placing them on either side of my face "I am going to be your husband, Edda. If anyone tries to hurt you, whether it be the Lannisters, Stannis, the hounds- Even my own father, Warden of the North- They will experience a pain so terrible that they'd wish the would die."

"...Would you..." I swallowed, afraid to say what I was meant to "W-Would you ever... Ever hurt me?"

"No!" Ramsay laughed, kissing my forehead "You're my bride-"

"I'm your key to the North" I corrected, regretting it instantly.

He hesitated, looking me dead in the eye, and then said "Yes. Yes, you are and you can trust me to protect you, and I can trust you to do your job as Lady Bolton" he placed his hand on my stomach.

I was trembling, and so he helped me up with his hand, saying "Come, let me show you what happens to those who betray our trust"