Stealing the Bastard’s Bride
Their plan was madness. Hopeless, foolish, doomed.
The Wildling Spearwives had dressed like servants and they insisted that it was Theon who helped them.
Theon led the way up the stairs. The door to Ramsay’s bedchamber was before him. And guarding it were two of the Bastard’s Boys.
“I have hot water for the Lady Arya,” Theon told them. “Try a wash yourself, Reek. You smell,” said one. But they unlocked the door to the bedchamber, and Theon waved the women through.
No day had dawned inside this room. Shadows covered all. The girl is gone, Theon thought. She has thrown herself out a window in despair. “Where is she?” Holly asked. Then they saw her.
Jeyne had pulled the furs up over herself to hide. From us? Or was she expecting her lord husband? The thought that Ramsay might be coming made him want to scream. “No need to hide. These are friends.”
Rowan moved closer. “You must come with us, and quickly. We’ve come to take you to your brother.”
“Brother? I … I have no brothers.” She has forgotten who she is. She has forgotten her name. “” “You have a half-brother. Jon Snow”
“No. This is some trick. It’s him, it’s my … my lord, my sweet lord, he sent you, this is just some test to make sure that I love him. I do, I do, I love him more than anything.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Tell him, you tell him. I’ll do what he wants … whatever he wants … with him or … or with the dog or … please … he doesn’t need to cut my feet off, I won’t try to run away, not ever.”
Rowan whistled softly. “Gods curse the man.”
“You know me. I’m Theon, you remember. I know you too. I know your name.”
Squirrel had stripped down to her smallclothes. With Rowan’s help, Theon got Jeyne Poole into Squirrel’s clothes. If the gods are good and the guards are blind, she may pass.
“Now we are going out and down the steps,” Theon told the girl. “Keep your head down and your hood up. Don’t run, don’t cry, don’t speak, don’t look anyone in the eye.” “Stay close to me,” Jeyne said. “Don’t leave me.” “I will be right beside you.” Theon promised as Squirrel slipped into Lady Arya’s bed. The guards didn’t even look when they left.
But on the steps the fear returned. What if they met Ramsay himself? Gods save me, not Ramsay, anyone but him. What use was it to smuggle the girl out of her bedchamber? Ramsay would flay them all.
They were in the heart of Winterfell with the castle all around them. Even if the guards let us pass, there is no way through the outer wall.
The Battlements Gate was flanked by a pair of guards. “Reek, is that you?” “You poor boys must be freezing,” said Holly.
“Here, let me warm you up.” The woman neared and before the guards could react they were dead.
From behind them came alarums and the sounds of running feet.
Frenya stopped and turned. “Go on. I will hold the kneelers here.” Theon was staggering by the time he reached the foot of the stair.
He slung the girl over his shoulder and began to climb
He could hear the shouting from below, where Frenya was fighting half a dozen guards-men in the snow.
“Which way?” he shouted.“
The wind was howling, and he and the girl were trapped.
If they take us alive, they will deliver us to Ramsay. Theon grabbed Jeyne about the waist and jumped.
From A Dance with Dragons Chapter 71 (Theon I) - shortened
