5th Month of 298 A.C. Winterfell
Ser Waymar Royce
Winterfell was much like Runestone in that because of its simplicity it was magnificent. There was none of the over ceremonial pomp that so effected King's Landing or the Red Keep. It was a nice and peaceful place that also had much activity. There was none of this false sense of trying to do things one way, there was only one way to do things and that was the old way. Waymar could appreciate that, and he could appreciate the power the Starks held. They would be important allies for the crown prince to have when the time came. There was power in the Starks and what they stood for, power that would make men follow them simply because of who and what they were. That was what the crown prince would need, a man like Eddard Stark that brought those of the honour inclined nature to him. For it would be a tough time ahead, King Robert would not live long enough to make it anything else.
The crown prince it seemed had also realised this and as such had begun making the first moves towards bring the Starks to his side, starting with the bastard. And so Waymar was not surprised when the prince spoke to him that night after the feast. "Tell me Waymar, what did you learn about the bastard from your interactions with him?"
Waymar considers for a moment and then says. "I believe Jon Snow is a man driven by duty. Once he knows what his duty is he will stick by it no matter the cost to himself. His father might be about honour, but growing up a bastard he has come to value to position and security of duty."
"It might well be the case that should I give the boy what he wants, then he will be mine forever after. You saw how his eyes lit up at the chance to be a squire for a knight of the Kingsguard, give him that and he shall be putty for me to do whatever I wish." The crown prince says.
"Most definitely Your Grace." Waymar replies. "His sense of wanting to belong to something will not go away though. You must be able to reassure him that he is valued and wanted. You have given him hope and recognition, two things I do think he ever thought he would have."
"Two very dangerous things as well one might add. Men will do strange things when they have hope and recognition. Just look at my own father. He fought a damned war for the woman he loved because he hoped to have her. The crown was a burden he never wanted or expected." The crown prince says sagely.
"Of course Your Grace. But how will you continue to make the bastard yours? You have cast the first net, but now the bastard must needs be reeled in." Waymar asks.
At this the crown prince smiles and says. "Theon Greyjoy. It seems the Greyjoy boy is over confident and not well liked by anyone but the Stark heir. That is who I will use. You shall continue to speak with Jon Snow, get to know him reassure him that he is not far from my thoughts with regards to what promise I made. And I shall speak to Greyjoy, and get to use him as the puppet he truly is."
Waymar nods. "Setting them up for conflict? A smart move Your Grace. Though Robb Stark might be a slight hindrance to those plans. He is friends with both the bastard and the ward. And it seems he does not like them fighting."
The crown prince looks at him in question then. "You think he likes to play the hero then does Stark?"
"Most definitely. It seems he wishes to live up to his father's reputation. And considering there has been no conflict for nine years for him to fight in, this is how he does it. Playing peace maker between his brother and the ward." Waymar says.
"Then that is how Robb Stark shall be included in my plans. The heir shall be compelled to act in order to prevent some sort of strife between the two. Strife that we shall help push them towards. There is nothing more satisfying than that. And when the time comes we shall bend Stark to our will." The crown prince says.
Waymar gets a flutter in his chest at the word we, but he knows the crown prince means himself. "How will you do that your grace?" he asks.
The crown prince is silent a moment and then says. "We shall show Stark that it is in his best interests if Theon Greyjoy is seen not as a friend but as a puppet. Someone to use for one's own gain. That is all the Ironborn are, they are not worth anything else."
"And if Stark resists?" Waymar asks.
"Then I already have his half-brother looking like he will be willing to do as I ask simply for the chance to fight in the Kingsguard. It would be no hard step to remove Stark and have his half-brother legitimised." The crown prince says.