The gates of Winterfell were opened and Jaime Lannister and his men were let inside without questions being asked. Roose Bolton still had an alliance with the Lannisters after all. There was no reason not to let Jaime in. Sansa remembered the last time that Jaime Lannister had visited Winterfell with King Robert and Prince Joffrey. She had been so young and stupid then. Whatever the reason he came for this time, she would not be so stupid as to trust a single word he said. Not after everything she had suffered.

Sansa was expected to dine with her husband, good father, and their Lannister guests and she did so, though unhappily.

"It looks like your rebuilding efforts are coming along nicely." Jaime commented to Roose as they sat down for their meal.

"Ah yes, we were nearly finished repairing the walls before Stannis attacked and we have had to repair the damage a second time since his defeat." Roose stated.

"I heard it was no simple matter to defeat him, what with all of Stannis forces and the Wildlings against you as well." Jaime inquired.

"The Knights of the Vale came to our aid. Though, it would have been much more difficult without the wildfire." Ramsay spoke up, a little too happy about the wildfire. "But I was willing to do anything to get back my bride after he stole her from me. Isn't that right Sansa?"

"Of course my lord." Sansa said. She knew he wanted her to thank him for his rescue but she just didn't have it in her to do so.

"So what brings you here, all the way from Kingslanding?" Roose said, calmly changing the subject.

"Actually, I've just come from Dorne. You are aware that Lord Baelish was offered a new position for his assistance against Stannis?" Jaime broached the subject.

"So you have come to remove me as Warden of the North and instate Littlefinger?" Roose said.

"That would have been my mission yes, had he not gone missing just after the battle." Jaime said.

Ramsay smiled. "Are you trying to say what I think you're trying to say?"

Roose cut in before Ramsay could say something stupid. "There are a number of things that could have happened to Lord Baelish. It was the chaos of battle after all. He could have been killed and burned by wildfire. He could have fled during the battle as he was not known as a man of war, perhaps he is merely in hiding until he can attain a new means of power."

"I don't suppose you saw anything?" Ramsay asked Sansa. "While Stannis had you, did you see Lord Littlefinger? Maybe you have some idea of what happened to him?"

"Of course not my lord. I was never allowed out of my tent." Sansa said.

"Well there you have it." Roose said. "We had nothing to do with Baelish going missing. Unless you have another Warden of the North available, perhaps it would be best to put the matter to rest."

"I will for now." Jaime agreed. "If you will allow me one concession?"

"And what would that be?" Roose asked.

"Send the bones of Brienne of Tarth back to her father Lord Selwyn." He said.

"Done. In the meantime, you and your men are our welcome guests. Feel free to stay at Winterfell for as long as you need." Roose said.

Ser Jaime caught up to Sansa in the hallway after dinner, There was no one else nearby. "Lady Sansa, is there someplace I can speak to you where we won't be overheard?" He asked.

She regarded him warily. "Why?"

He seemed at a loss for words. "I came to help." He finally said.

"You can't help me." She said and turned away from him.

"Sansa wait…" He called after her.

She wanted to keep going. She didn't believe he would really help her. Yet she couldn't entirely push aside the hope that he would. There had to be some hope somewhere in the world, didn't there? "Why? Would you help me?"

"I made a vow to your mother, the same vow that Brienne of Tarth made. I intend to keep it." He said.

"Forgive me ser, but even if that's true, you still have given me no cause to trust you." She said.

"You're right. I haven't. Do you trust your good father and lord husband to care for you better?"

Sansa swallowed, trying to bite back her tears. "No."

"I thought as much." Jaime said. They heard someone approaching in the hall. "We will speak later." He said, walking away from her.

Sansa went back to her chambers and bolted the door shut. Ramsay had probably gone to Myranda after dinner, at least she hoped he had. She had long ago been forbidden from locking the door to him.

She collapsed onto her bed wearily. She had no idea what to make of Jaime Lannister and his offer. It had to be some sort of trick. It always was. Sansa awoke some hours later to someone pounding on the door.

"Let me in Sansa!" It was Ramsay. She hurried to the door. "What have I told you about locking me out?"

"Never to do so, my lord."

"That's right, I said never to do so. So why have you locked me out this room?" He asked almost kindly.

"I was only trying to keep out the Lannister men. They frighten me." She told him.

"You needn't be frightened. I would never let them hurt you. In fact I can go have them punished right now just for scaring my beloved bride."

Sansa reached over and put a hand on his arm. "There's no need for that my lord. I'm much safer now that you're here."

He smiled broadly. He took her again that night as he had so many other nights. She awoke in the morning and he was gone. Sansa dressed herself. She didn't bother to send for maids to help her. They always looked like they felt sorry for her pain and she hated to see the pity in their eyes. She dressed herself and went to the great hall for breakfast. Ser Jaime was in the corridor on her way there.

"Do you go to the godswood to pray?" He asked, walking along beside her.

"Perhaps I will today, after the noon meal." She told him. He only nodded. With that their meeting had been arranged.

Sansa didn't kneel in the godswood while she waited for Ser Jaime. She felt as though she were walking into a trap and kneeling would have only made it worse. He came alone, which surprised her because she had truly expected he would bring some of his men.

"Ramsay knows I'm in the godswood." She told him straight away, just to make it clear that he could not kidnap her from here.

"I expected as much. Does he think you're alone?"

"I told him I would be. He probably thinks I was lying."

"Then I'll make this quick. If you want to leave this place, I'll take you with me. I'll do everything I can to bring you someplace safe." He said.

"I doubt there is any place in all the world that would be safe for me. Where could I possibly go? No one could take me in without risking war with house Bolton."

"I could take you to Casterly Rock."

"And what, the Lannisters would be at war with the Boltons?"

"Probably." He admitted.

"Why not just kill them, Roose and Ramsay? Then I could have my home back."

"It would be a betrayal. It's more honorable to challenge a man to battle than to murder them in their own bed while I'm their guest." He said.

"I suppose you're right." She said sadly.

"I still want to help you. I'll stay for a while longer. For a fortnight at least. If you change your mind…"

"I understand Ser." She told him and with that he left her.