Flayer

42.Ramsay

I started at the palace gates, awaiting patiently for my wife. My silence and stillness disturbed my soldiers. The Lord Commander of my army made the timely calculations.

Some soldiers called out my name, nearing me to ask for directions.

"What now milord?"

"Milord we must prepare."

"Lord Ramsay?"

I didn't respond. I only knew that something had gone awfully wrong.

Finally my Commander spoke. "Lord Bolton... It is time."

I did not look away from the gate. "Tell me good lord, can fish fight on land?"

"They'll flop around until they die" He smirked with understanding.

I looked over at him. "Ride down to the Freys, tell them we're ready." I turned my noble Blood to face my men, hooves pounding on the grass "Get the fucking log! Let us siege the Blackfish's palace!"

A roar arose from my ranks.

...

Another blow to the gates and it would give in. The Freys, worthless things, settled for shooting arrows toward the archers above the gates.

The log smashed against the gate and down it came. I kicked my horse and galloped in. With my sword I cut through the face of the first man that tried to stop me. My men soon flooded in and they massacred all those who were stupid enough to be in my way.

I leaped off my horse, grabbing a dying Tully man by the neck. "Where is Lady Bolton?"

He wept in fear as he pointed at the castle "D-d-dungeon!"

I quickly slit his throat, turning to my men. "You, you, and you!" I pointed at my three most skilled men "We will ascend into the dungeons." I addressed everyone else "The rest of you- Burn this palace to the ground and anyone who dare stop you!"

The Freys were obviously the "anyone" in this situation. And so my men turned and fought those beside them as my chosen three and I barged into the Keep to find my wife.

...

"Down here milord!" One of my men said as I spilt the guts of a Tully man.

I jerked my head in that direction. A staircase leading to the darkness. How dare they? How dare they keep my lovely bride in the darkness? My sweet little bride...

I ran down by myself, commanding my men to keep watch. Quickly I grabbed a torch from the wall, stabbing the men who stood in my way.

"Edda!" I hollered. I didn't receive an answer. I felt I was growing madder by the second. "EDDA!"

"Flayer!" Brynden Tully emerged under a torchlight. In his arms was Willard, and in his hand a knife. "In my arms I hold your heir."

My blood boiled hot "And where is it you hold my wife?"

He ignored me "This child has the face of your father, your wife has confessed he has not an ounce of Stark or Tully in him. Your baby brother-"

"My wife, Blackfish, where is she?" I pulled my sword out and pointed it at him.

"Leave now. Leave with your men and your heir. And once Lady Edda's child is born I will send them to you to raise. But leave her with me." He proclaimed. "You've hurt her enough-"

I let out an angered cry as I swung my sword at him. He ducked just in time, letting out a gasp.

"Monster!" He shouted "Bastard! You could've killed the child-"

"AGH!" I swung again but he blocked me with his sword. "MEN!" I called out for them "COME!"

We continued to duel until my three men surrounded him. Before they detained him he had jabbed me in the stomach, not deep enough to kill but enough to slow me and make my blood gush out.

"Men, take my son and heir from the grasp of this old man and put him in chains" I commanded, clutching my stomach. They did as I asked, prying Willard free as they put him in chains.

Surprisingly he did not resist. "What will become of this Palace? Will it fall back into the hands of the Freys-"

"Good sirs take him to see the battle upstairs-"

One of my men, who carried Willard, insisted that "Lord Ramsay if you do not leave soon you might bleed to death."

I ignored him as I dragged my feet around the dungeons. "Edda!" My men let me be and left.

...

I shone the torchlight inside every cell I passed by until-

"My love," I gasped, breaking the lock. She was gagged, tied, and teary-eyed as she muffled a relieved sound. I cut every piece of cloth she had been bound by and set her free.

"Ramsay," she touched my blood-soaked vest.

I shook my head. "'It's a small injury" I lied, kissing her forehead. As she knew I was lying my pregnant wife proceeded to help me back out of the Keep.