14Back for another one. I updated the profile so make sure to check it out after reading, thanks for also reading.
Chapter 2: Regrets of Choice
Stark Camp
Brandon had thought about leaving if her ladyship looks at him with scorn one more time, he swears it.
"Blasted woman, doesn't she realize I came to help?" Brandon asked to no one in particular, sighing and breathing in the cold Northern air.
This Jon Snow isn't any better, always looking so grumpy and frustrated which was a little understandable. The man does have to keep Wildlings, Northmen, and former turncloaks from killing one another. Brandon thought as he descended the steps of the main pavilion, nearly bumping into a serving boy.
It is commendable now that he took a moment to look, years ago if one said the Bastard of Winterfell and Ned Stark's daughter would be leading a resistance force against the Bolton's? He'd have laughed and continued to do so until he died from such a ridiculous statement.
If anything, once they've won against Ramsay it will a great story. One for the histories to remember for centuries. Brandon thought with former aspirations of glory resurfacing, aspirations that died when he lost two of his brothers and his father.
Sighing again, Brandon scratched his head and walked the encampment. He later found himself at the storehouse where the provisions were kept, he saw a litter of soldiers getting something to eat from the nearby cooks.
It was there he saw an old man serving a bowl of soup to a young man, no older than twelve. "Didn't know even the young were fighting to free the North?" He stated questioningly and the old man chuckled and put the ladle back into the kettle.
"Well, if it came to kneeling to a bastard than a mad man, which would you choose? No, you already did." That's true, this fight is worth more than how old one is to fight, man or woman. "Davos Seaworth, if your wondering." He wasn't but it's good to know who he is conversing with.
"Brandon Karstark, Lord of Karhold." He introduced himself to Davos who looked taken aback but quickly recovered.
"Using the titles? I am no minor-great Lord, I am just a Lord of some small keep in the Stormlands." Stormlands? So, the man was one of Stannis Baratheon's bannermen who came North months ago.
He remembered the Battle of Winterfell, he remained home while his commanders went with 400 riders. Trevon reported that Stannis and his army were annihilated, not even a bit of resistance from the Southerners, and had been scattered or killed.
At the time, he didn't much care for Stannis. The man was as much an invader than a liberator as those ravens read, but now, he might have joined if he knew the outcome of now, Ramsay killing his father and brother.
"Why weren't you at Winterfell with Stannis?" He asked the man who stifled a response.
"His grace had sent me to the Watch for reinforcements, it was too late for it and he, his wife and daughter were murdered by Bolton." Wife and daughter? That can't be true.
Ramsay Bolton wouldn't be able to keep quiet about killing the invader's daughter and wife, the sick bastard would have made a show if it to the rest of the North.
No, they had to have been killed or died before the battle.
"Sorry to hear that, I know I would never have brought my sister to a battle. I am sure he had his reasons." He tried to make Davos feel better, it didn't help as the man gotten upset.
Bidding Davos farewell, Brandon looked around and saw Lady Sansa staring right back at him with that same look of disdain and he felt the anger boil and he got tired of getting that look, not that he didn't deserve it.
The memories came in waves of her wedding to Ramsay Bolton, he had been one of the few to arrive early and had bumped into her Ladyship crossing the Godswood. He offered his condolences for her family and for her marriage to Ramsay Snow, it puzzled her to name the monster what he was and asked what he knew about him.
He didn't lie to her, he told Sansa about Lady Hornwood. He explained the rumors and the missing serving girls and even the strange death of Roose Bolton's firstborn son, the man's trueborn son whom he heard was a decent person and would have been a good Lord.
It pained him when she begged him to rescue her, take her from here and to safety within Karhold. He knew such an idea wouldn't be everlasting, the Bolton army would destroy his forces and burn Karhold to the ground. His sister would be raped in front of his broken body then Sansa would be hauled back to Ramsay.
He turned down her offer, he left her to the whims of a mad dog who had abused and raped her numerous times no doubt.
The one pleasant memory from that horrid night was her, in her gown of white and looked so beautiful- A Princess of the North if anyone still accepts Robb as their former King. Her red hair is what captivated him most, and the thought that Ramsay fucking Snow would be her husband is an insult to the North.
Brandon knew he failed her, he'd carry it with him forever but he's strong enough to not let it hinder him. He'd use it in the battle against Ramsay Snow and take the bastards head with his father's sword, he will have the body fed to his damned hounds he loves so much.
His feet carried him and his eyes followed the Lady Stark, she knew he was tailing her and didn't bother calling for help. They crossed a spot where it was less visible, not many to see him or her.
She turned and crossed her arms under her chest, eyeing him with a piercing detest. He decided to speak first, he needed her to see that he didn't have a choice.
"Listen, I came here with men to help take back your home and restore your House, I'm willing to fight and die to do so... But I shouldn't be looked at with scorn by my Wardeness for being loyal!" He told Sansa whose mouth scoffed and looked amused by his statement.
"Loyal, where was the loyalty when I asked- No, I begged you to take me away and that monster... " Sansa became silent and stifled a tear and even closed her eyes to stop them from breaking passed her eyes.
Brandon's intense stare softened, he sighed and looked to the muddy ground before looking back up to Sansa's sky-blue eyes. "Sansa... I am sorry I could not save you, I wish I had the strength but the outcome would have been, disastrous. I would be dead, you would still be forced to marry Ramsay and my army will have been decimated or joined our enemies." He said to her and she didn't seem to believe him yet but he meant it with every sincerity.
Sansa stayed silent and looked to be softening up to him but then her cold eyes returned. "That was then, and on assumptions. You will not redeem yourself in my eyes, not now, not ever." She walked away and left him there, feeling nothing but regret and a need to throw himself in a bottle of ale.
It didn't take him long to find where his men were put within the camp, he found Tredon who asked him what was wrong and he shrugged without saying a single word.
The Lord of Karhold quickly found himself a cup and indulged for an hour or two, at least until Jon calls for the next war meeting.
Ramsay
Ramsay laughed in his great hall when the scout reported on that cunt Karstark's betrayal, it was an amusing joke to him.
And Harrion went back there, he's either dead or captured by his kin, or maybe the coward is the one to rise against his liege lord? Ramsay rolled his eyes and eat his meal, thinking of all the fancy meat his hounds are going to taste when he's done with the rebels.
Hornwood. Karstark. Mormont. Forrester. Reeds and Wildling scum. They are all going to die, all going to be his new toys since Theon ran off with his bride.
His bride, no one else's. That brother of hers is going to watch him take her, maybe inside that crypt or even in front of his army and after he is done, he'll take that Mormont bitch and the Karstark whore.
Harrion, Brandon, Alys, even their keep. He will burn it all to the ground and flay them living, perhaps he'll keep them as new pets.
"What can the Karstarks do?" He questioned the scout, no answer. "I have 5,000 men. The Glover's and Manderly's fear me, and the Umbers know I'm going to win." He said to the many people gathered in the hall.
The Warden of the North, Lord of the Dreadfort and Winterfell tugged at the chain from under the table. From out of the shadows came a naked but collared Rickon Stark, his most valuable guest and a coin to toss at his enemies coming to his home.
"I have the Stark heir, too... I'm Lord of Winterfell and no bastard or wolf whore, not even their mutt of kin will take it from me." Ramsay howled to every one of his subjects, thinking them all nothing but pawns for him to play with as he sees fit.
The Lords in attendance looked on with disgust and fear, the many wished they could be rid of the Bastard of Bolton and his ill-gotten reign. The servants feared not just for Rickon's health and safety but their own, Roose had done much to contain Ramsay's actions and what he did to the Forrester's and Arthur Glenmore or Lord and Lady Cerwyn? The ones that survived the massacre of Winter Town also remembered when Ramsay butchered Rodrik Cassel and the Northmen who came to liberate Winterfell from Theon Greyjoy.
The people's only hope was the army to the North, Stannis had failed and the many prayed to the Old Gods for Jon Snow and Sansa Stark to defeat the monster and free the North from tyranny.
Ramsay snickered, "Come to play with us, Bastard, come and see your Lord of Winterfell." His snickering soon evolved into wide laughter and that laughter from his voice echoed and chimed with that of Rickon's sobbing, he enjoyed his time so far from being the Lord of Winterfell and he'll be damned before some bastard and his army stop it.
AN: So ends chapter two, I hope you all have enjoyed as I did writing, thank you all for the support and for the continued support going forward. I am also sorry for the short chapter this time, the next I will ensure to be a long and interesting update, at least keep 2500 or 3000 words per chapter.
I have an outline of the big battle, I'm thinking perhaps chapter seven, keep a steady buildup of everything. Brandon and Sansa's relationship is full of distrust and regret but as the war for the North continues to bring them closer.
Also, feel free to leave a review at the end, I will answer guests on the next update and pm for the users of the site.
Well, this has been your King, and good day to everyone.
