Lord Roose Bolton

An independent north that was something Roose had dreamed of ever since he had been a little boy growing up in the Dreadfort learning about the histories of the north and of his house. It was something that as a true believer of the old gods, he had truly believed needed to be done in order for the north to reach the glories it had had during the years before the conquest and the strength and fear that it had commanded from the other kingdoms, when there had been seven kingdoms. As far as Roose had been concerned under the iron throne, the north had become cowed and bent, unable to do anything that by rights they should have been able to do without fear of repercussion, and now with the north free once more they were able to do what they wished so long as it remained true to northern right and heritage.

As far as Roose was concerned not having to pay taxes to the Iron Throne had made his house much wealthier almost more wealthy than House Manderly, after all the Dreadfort had control over some very rich and fertile lands, and with Lord Halys Hornwood being a cousin of his, they were working together to make sure that their part of the north benefitted the most from King Barthogan's new laws and measures, something that Roose had not been wanting to insist on but something that he was now glad the man's father had insisted on implementing. Furthermore under King Barthogan, the power and influence that Roose's house now had was growing many fold, under House Stark House Bolton had been cowed and bent, and had been the slavering dog trying so hard to gain acceptance for their reformed ways and their conformity, House Stark had spat on House Bolton and now House Stark was gone and House Mormont the new royal house were more than happy to take in what advice Roose had to give as well as to allow them free reign with their own methods of questioning. Things that had all come in useful when spies had been captured and the use of flaying had ensured that they had learnt where the spies had come from, it seemed the spider was trying to weave his way into the north, and Roose had made sure the man had failed.

This newfound influence that Roose had at the northern court had also reflected itself into his family, his son and heir Domeric was now betrothed to Princess Branda Stark, a match that high steward Lord Jeor Mormont had arranged and one that the king had agreed to. That match would give Roose a claim to Winterfell but would also mean that his grandchildren would have royal blood something that he had always wanted for his children for it meant that they would be able to advance further in life than their predecessors. As for his family in truth, well Roose could find no fault with them, he had been wed before to one Robyn Dustin, a sweet woman but frail, so very frail, his first wife had died during the long harsh winter that had come in the twilight years of King Aegon the Unlikely's reign, she had been unable to carry a babe to term and as such Roose had had no heir when his first wife had died. His cousin Bennard had had two children shortly after Robyn's death and so they had served as Roose's heirs until roughly three years ago when his son Domeric had been born. His second wife, Bethany was a sweet lady as well but she had that Ryswell fire to her, a fire that her sister Barbrey was well known to have. He and his wife spoke on many things but there was little more than affection and friendship there, he knew his wife craved love, and Roose knew that he was unable to give her any of it. Their son Domeric was the true mortar that held them together with his unbridled energy and inquisitiveness, their son would grow up to make a good lord and husband one day Roose knew, a man who would be able to make jokes and jest about things that Roose had never been able to because of the reputation of their family and the fact that Roose had forgotten how to laugh so many years ago.

As to the council that helped the king rule from Winterfell it was an interesting one, there were no defined positions apart from that of High Steward for the king's father Lord Jeor Mormont who was a great bear of a man who had a head for the game of politics and intrigues, then there was the High Constable who was in charge of all the current standing forces that the king had ordered to be raised so as to serve as a quick response team to any threat that man was Jorah Mormont the king's own brother. As to the rest, there was the man who served as the prime advisor on the council maester Luwin a man new to his job in Winterfell but a man who knew what he was about. Then there was Lord Rodrik Ryswell Roose's goodfather and a man who knew how to play the game as well, though his bluntness and stubbornness on some issues often hindered how far he could advance his own house. Then there was the most experienced seaman in the north Ser Jeffrey Snow a man whose father was rumoured to have been the mighty Edwyle Stark himself, the man knew his way around a ship like most men knew their ways around their own home and hearth he had advised the king on the building of the northern fleet and such. Finally there was Roose who served as Lord Treasurer, handling the accounts and making sure all the north's expenses were lower than their intake. The king himself whilst being a very good warrior and a good administrator with a good head on his shoulders, was someone who was sorely lacking in the intrigue department a true Mormont through and through then, and it was something that Roose hoped would improve with time. As such a war council had been convened at Winterfell, there had been suspicious movements around in the lands south of the neck and the king was deciding what this could mean. The king spoke in that deep voice of his to begin things. "I thank you all for coming my lords. As you know things between us and the south have been tense ever since the rebellion ended and Lord Eddard was slain on the Trident. That his sister's body was not returned to us and the fact that Robb Stark is being kept a hostage in the south to be tainted by the Andals, has made things even worse between us. My crowning would have simply aggravated the issue for that pompous asshole Rhaegar Targaryen, and as such I do have reason to believe that war is approaching. I would hear your views on what we should do before someone gets hurt."

There was silence for a moment and then Lord Jon Umber known as the Greatjon spoke first. "I say we take the attack to the southerners. Why should we let them make the first move and harm our people when we can march south and send a clear message to them straight away that we shall not be tested by any dragon scum ever again? Why should we let them have all the fun?"

There was some murmuring at that but then Lord Jeor Mormont spoke up his voice gruff. "What you say sounds like a man hungry for war Lord Umber, whilst I might have been able to understand that had it been wildlings we had been about to deal with, with this I am afraid I cannot understand why you would wish to bring war and destruction down on anyone when the need is not great. Rhaegar Targaryen as far as our sources in the south can gather lacks the support necessary for a full scale invasion of the north and yet if he does nothing he will look weak before his lords. As such we need merely wait for the fool to try and attack the Moat and bleed him dry there, invading the south will make us look bad and foolish."

Lord Umber's voice was laced with disgust when he replied. "So you would let that filth walk into our territory and begin burning and plundering as he pleased? I would not stand behind that neither decision nor I am certain would anyone else here. Moat Cailin might have been rebuilt and there might be more men manning it then there have been in three hundred years but I sincerely doubt that against the southerners it will be able to stand. Besides there are some more southernly inclined lords who have deigned not to join us who could switch sides should they so choose."

Lord Willam Dustin a smart man and a very good warrior speaks then. "What Lord Jeor says make sense Jon, you know that as much as everyone else here does. We cannot invade the south without due cause, and just because there are some tensions with us and King's Landing does not give us the right to call our banners and send our men off to die. We must make it so that Rhaegar Targaryen makes the first move and plays his hand first before we do, only then can we make absolutely that the gods are behind us and that we are right in fighting for what we believe in."

Lord Ryswell spoke then voicing his agreement for his other goodson. "Aye, what Lord Willam says makes a lot of sense. The old gods will decide when we should invade and we should take the lead from there, anything else would make less sense for though we might have the right of it all, Rhaegar Targaryen has superior forces at his disposal and we cannot hope to challenge him in the south. Best wait for him to come north and bleed a little before we bleed him completely."

The king had been silent up until then and then he finally spoke and his voice was deep and filled with conviction. "So it seems that you are all suggesting that we remain here behind our walls and castles waiting for the dragon to come burning down on us. Whilst I do not like that suggestion anymore than Lord Umber does, I can see the sense in it after all, we know that the Targaryens have no dragons anymore, and as such they won't be able to circumvent the north without finding their path blocked by the cranongmen and Lord Howland has promised me that the cranongmen shall bleed them every step of the way. As to those lords with more southern influences, should they step out of line in this coming conflict, I shall show them the true might of winter. They will not cross us, not now, not when they need us more than we need them."

The king was about to say more when there was a knock on the door and Maester Luwin walked in. "Begging your pardons my lords, Your Grace. But there has been a raven from White Harbour and I thought you should see it, it appears most urgent."

The king nodded and took the letter and his face went pale as he read the words on the page. He looked up and said. "White Harbour has been sacked by men led by Lord Jon Connington, they found a way into the city."