The Thousand Days

Author: Wardown (myself)

Words: 34,158

Status: Unfinished

Language: English

Rating: Explicit

Chapter 21, A Night to Remember. https://archiveofourown.org/works/66944035/chapters/178918411

Sansa groaned inwardly, at the sight of old General Tarly and his party, but politeness required her to welcome them, including Rudi. The latter, she noted, was accompanied by an attractive young woman, allegedly his fiancee, but in reality, she suspected, a lady of the camp. She seemed quite empty-headed.

"I've asked Rudi to capture for me, the helmet of an imperial curassier."

"Indeed?" remarked Roose Bolton, a sardonic smile on his lips.

"Yes, indeed, my lord", said Rudi. "All the young blades in the regiment are vying with each other to win one for their ladies. We shall hunt them, and cut them down. To the victor, the spoils."

"Is that a joke?" replied Bolton, as Rudi turned red.

"Certainly not, my lord", replied the other indignantly. "Boldness wins wars!"

"And there was I, thinking that wars were won by careful planning, hard work, and meticulous attention to detail. There is a place for boldness, certainly, but more often, there is a place for caution. Let me tell you boy, if you engage an imperial curassier in combat, I suspect you'll be left wearing that dress sword of yours up your own backside. " Bolton turned away to speak to Tarly, and Sansa pressed her fan to her face, desperate to hide her laughter.