SWEET CREATURE [ Ramsay Bolton ]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

From her window, she watches Ramsay and his army march away. It's an impressive sight, their sigil of the flayed man raised high, the sound of thousands of feet treading on the ground. It's enough to strike fear in all of their enemies. Katherine can't admit it but her heart is still sinking; even with all of Ramsay's soldiers, she's heard stories of Jon Snow. She knows of his fate and it doesn't foretell his death on the battlefield today.

Ramsay is a lost cause.

This place ruins people.

Katherine knows a sinking ship when she sees one. She had thought she'd be safer here but Ramsay's army is gone, the castle is defenseless, and she's not sure if he'd ever return.

But she waits, waits to see Darren's return. Hours pass before she sees him atop his horse racing towards the castle. When he arrives at the gates, he looks towards her window and knows that she can see him perfectly. And he shakes his head. Ramsay Bolton has been defeated.

Turning away from the window, Katherine races to her bed and pulls out the luggage stowed away underneath. It had belonged to Esme, once carried everything she needed for an extended stay at the Dreadfort. Now, it belongs to Katherine. She doesn't carry much, it will only slow her down. She grabs a couple of shifts, her favorite stays, and a dress to change into later. Anything else she may need can surely be found.

Fiona watches Katherine dart back and forth, grabbing clothes to stuff into the bag. Her maker looks almost frantic; something is clearly wrong. 

"Pack your things," Katherine tells her, throwing a cloak over her shoulders. Katherine pulls the hood up, ties it around her neck.

"What's happening?" Fiona asks. It's unnerving to see Katherine so alarmed but her words lift Fiona's spirits. They're leaving, they're finally leaving. No more Ramsay Bolton, no more screams of torture or snarling beasts. Fiona is free of all of it.

"Ramsay is lost to us," Katherine explains. "Along with his army." She hardly spares her a glance and Fiona wonders what has Katherine so frantic. Katherine is strong and powerful and fast. Who cares if she no longer has Ramsay?

Katherine finally notices Fiona still standing against the wall, frozen in her spot. "Did you not hear me?" Katherine snaps. "We have to leave."

"Not until you tell us what we're running from," Darren says as he enters the  room. His cheeks are flushed where the wind whipped at him as he rode his horse back. He sounds slightly out of breath; he had rushed, hurried back as quickly as he could. They are running out of time.

Katherine wants to flee but she drops down on the bed, hand pressed to her stomach. She can kill both of them in a single second yet she feels surrounded.

"He'll find me," she whispers, "it's only a matter of time." Her eyes roam around the room, not focusing on anything. Then, she looks back at them. "I'm going north with or without you."

Fiona's eyes grow wide but Darren speaks first. "Are you mad?" he exclaims. "Haven't you heard the stories?"

"I would rather face the creatures hiding behind the wall than to fall into the clutches of-" again, she breaks off, unable to confess the thing that has horrified her since she was a girl. The madman always lurking in the shadows, always nipping at her ankles.