Hello everyone, I am happy that you are sitting with me for the next ten to twenty minutes.
This chapter is short so sorry for that, the next'll be longer.
Chapter 25: Winterfell
Winterfell was in ruins.
The night they arrived, the survivors at Wintertown told them about Theon taking the castle, then Rodrik's forces being scattered by Ramsay Snow.
So many emotions were hitting Arya and Arthur, and other Northmen who lived here, they are home after so long.
They found Luwin's body in the godswood, even though he didn't like Maesters, the man had taught him like he was a true Stark and he respected him for it. They buried him at the edge of the Godswood, a pedestal of stone was placed for him with the man's favorite book that survived the burning of his library.
They also buried Robb and Catelyn, putting them in the crypts beside his father. He and Arya were leaving this place until a small bit of wind knocked down a feather from his aunts tomb, he stopped and picked it up, blowing on it to get rid of the dust before putting it back into her statues hand.
He urged Arya to come along, leaving and joining the others for supper in the great hall.
After the short funeral for Luwin, Robb, Catelyn, even his father and brothers along with everyone who lost their lives defending Winterfell, they returned to their own rooms, repairing what they could but the rest of Winterfell needed to be mended.
A day and night passes as they rested, the next morning started with a meeting of everyone within the
"Lord Glover, I wish you good fortune, I hope the Greyjoys surrender on their own." He was speaking with Galbart who looked anxious to leave, "If Lady Asha Greyjoy doesn't surrender and a fight takes place, take none but her captive, execute the rest and take their longships." He added and he nodded.
"Your will shall be done, my King... But there is more." He was passed a raven scroll, he unrolled it and read it. "Before the battle of Moat Cailin, House Whitehill and Ramsay went to Ironrath, they killed Lord Forrester's son, Ethan, and took his younger brother, Ryon to Highpoint." House Whitehill are vassals to the Bolton's, rivals to the Forrester's.
"I want to stay home, my Lord, but... Gregor!" He called out of all the Lords and an upset Lord Forrester and Rodrik stepped forward, "I give you command of 3000 men, take back your home, go to Highpoint and arrest Gryff Whitehill for breaking the peace and turning on his people. He and the Lady Greyjoy will be brought here for their sentence." He decreed, he preferred a quick execution as he had done to Stafford and Daven Lannister.
But he is a King now, it's better he isn't seen as some uncontrolled monster, executing and killing everyone without proper trials.
"What of Highpoint, my King, who will have their lands?" He hasn't been to Highpoint, he hasn't been to Ironrath either.
"Other than Gryff, who is the next to rule Highpoint?" All the males are dead, many from sickness. Rodrik cleared his throat and answered for his father.
"Lady Gwyn Whitehill, my King." He took a moment to think about what to do, the moment passes as he settled on a decision.
"Highpoint will be given to House Forrester, Lady Gwyn Whitehill will be made your wife to end the Whitehill name. Congratulations, Lord of Highpoint." The Lords and Ladies within the room cheered for House Forresters new appointment as a high Lord, Galbart agreed to release House Forrester from their oath to make them neighboring Lords and not vassals.
He supposed that the Dreadfort and House Bolton should be split and spread out between the territories.
"I have deemed that the bastard, Ramsay Snow has made him unredeemable to the people of the North. He attacked the Northern force that came to reclaim Winterfell and save Bran and Rickon Stark, the heirs to Winterfell. I sentence him and all who follow him to death." The room agreed to the decision, "In response to House Bolton's hand in killing my brother, I hereby distribute the lands to Karhold, Last Hearth... And House Stark." It was a last minute decision to take a part for his own House, it was more for himself than any strategic notion.
He dismissed the Lords and bid farewell to the force going to Ironrath, Deepwood Motte and the Dreadfort.
The day was nearing its zenith, he was patrolling the walls with his mother who was telling him about some of her years in Essos, one, in particular, was from Qarth.
"Daenerys? A Targaryen?" He questioned, baffled by the notion that any of them were still alive, apart from Jon who he still intends to visit with the Wildlings coming South.
His mother nodded and took a deep breath, pulling her cloak a little closer, "She is a strong young woman, beautiful, she isn't mad as the rest but she is determined... She will turn her eyes and her dragons to the Seven Kingdoms." That worried him a little.
The Targaryens were always said to be beautiful people, silver hair, eyes like his mother's family, skin as white as snow.
Then there are stories of dragonlords who are monstrous, Aerys the Mad, Aerion Brightflame, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Maegor the Cruel, Aegon the Unworthy, then the last but not least of Maelys the Monstrous from the Blackfyre line.
"If she is coming here? When she comes... We'll cross that when it comes." He didn't want to think about that, he doesn't want everyone to worry about anything.
They were crossing to another tower when he saw Arya and Edric playing, he has to remember that they are still young, their still children and they fight like warriors who spent their entire lives at war.
He knows Arya is going to hate him, he won't be letting her be a part of any more fights.
Stepping down the steps to join them he smiled wide and picked up some snow, throwing it at Edric's chest.
He can feel it, Winter is here, the snow is falling a lot more and he takes that as a good sign. The Wars to come, many are going to die and I won't let Arya be the next Stark buried in the crypts. He thought as Arya threw a snowball at him, he evaded it and along with the three chased one another across the Godswood.
It was very fun, he hasn't had such fun in some time. The only ones missing are Robb, Sansa, Jon, Bran... Even Rickon.
Elsewhere (Two Weeks Later)
Men climbed and smashed the Dreadforts gate, the defenders, forced to fight for Ramsay fought against Hornwood and Cerwyn men and were slaughtered.
Cley charged one last man before leading men to the great hall, he kicked the doors open and was shocked.
"There is no one here, check the rooms." He told some others who left but came back a moment later with Larence, he didn't look like someone who succeeded.
"Ramsay is not here, we cannot find him." The Lord of Cerwyn cursed and looked around the room, spotting something on the high table. He cautiously stepped closer and closer until he was a foot away, then inches, he reached out and took the letter and unfolded it.
"'Bastard, hear me. You killed my father and took his men and land. I bequeath my home to you, bastard. Take my bed and hearth for I went out for a hunt, my hounds caught the scent of a lost wolf pup, a boy wolf, I will take him for myself. Come and see the pelt, bastard.' That's impossible, there are no more of Lord Starks sons left, all but the King and his brother unless... Oh no." He turned around, "Scour the hills and forests, find Ramsay Snow!" He started leaving the hall and bumped into the castle maester.
"Get word to Winterfell, one of the King's younger brothers are alive."
Far from the Dreadfort, a party of soldiers is escorting a wagon to Winterfell, walking with them is a large wolf.
The soldiers are from House Umber, their charge is none other than Rickon Stark, the last trueborn son of Ned Stark and Catelyn Stark.
Some might question why Rickon wasn't returned home immediately upon the victory at Moat Cailin, the reason is that Rickon and his companion were at another place before this one.
Osha took him to Skagos to protect him, they did and kept him hidden for months after the fall of Winterfell, more so after the failed coup at the Twins. Lord Magnar wanted to know if Arthur Snow could get a foothold on the North before bringing the pup back to his home.
When the King in the North took back Torrhen's Square, the Lord of Skagos readied a ship and set sail, they traveled to Last Hearth and with a large escort began their journey to the heart of the North.
"Glad to be going home?" Osha asked her charge, he smiled.
"I want to play with Arthur and Arya," Rickon replied and she nodded.
"I bet you- "
The caravan stopped and the sound of horses was heard, her heartbeat went higher as she ducked out and saw men wearing the Flayed Man were fighting the Umber and Magnar soldiers.
She took Rickon and went into the chaos to find a horse, they need to get out of here because she saw how many were out there and they will kill all of their protectors.
"Shaggy!" They turned and saw the direwolf being attacked by a group of hounds and men, the wolf was slain a moment later. She took him and found Lord Mors Umber as he was finishing a soldier off.
"You two, get out of here- Gah!" An arrow hit the large man in the eye, killing him as the arrow hit right through his head.
She tried to rein in a horse, the beast was scared off and ran away. They were left alone as the rest of their guard was killed, the people who attacked them have surrounded them and she narrowed her eyes and picked up a spear.
She was a Free Folk, she knew how to fight and when they came at her, she showed them why she was a spear wife.
Osha fought many of them off, killing six men and two hounds, she fought hard. It ended when she was struck by an arrow, then another, then a third. She fell to one knee, groaning from the pain, the last arrow killed her as one shot her in the head as the other did Mors.
Rickon was frightened, he rushed and picked up a sword only for it to knocked out of his hand. He was then kicked to the ground and Osha's spear was picked up and pointed at him. His eyes looked into the pale ones of his attacker, his sickening smile was pointed towards him.
Ramsay knelt to Rickon and tilted his head, "Hello there, Lord Stark." All he could remember was Ramsay's hysteric laughter.
A Day Later
When word reached Winterfell, the howling of wolves and men were heard throughout the halls.
An hour after that, Arthur rode out of the gate with 900 riders and the wolves following. Ramsay the Bastard wants him to come and find him? So be it.
The Dread Wolf will tear the last blood of Bolton with his nails and teeth, the bastard will be begging for mercy before the end comes for him.
He's bringing his brother home.
AN: A short chapter but no less important. I figured this would be a good arc for the North while some plots move along. Ramsay and Arthur fight in the next chapter.
500 behind Ramsay (100 fell defending the Dreadfort) and Arthur, 900 soldiers and the Direwolves. Can't call it the Battle of the Bastards, I'm taking battle name suggestions for the next chapter.
Hear My Fury, Indeed he will, but at what cost?
CEW, The battles of Deepwood Motte and Highpoint will happen off page, but overviews will be described by the PoV characters. Ramsay isn't the type to sit and wait, he has set out to make Arthur come for him. Whether that proves to be a mistake is uncertain. The Wildling Army will happen in probably chapter 29 or 30. Mya will be taking on Lady Stonehearts and Arya's assassin plots, although, she isn't going to Braavos with the Faceless Men.
G. Tarkin, Arthur will make his mistakes but I believe since the Bolton's failed in their attempt, they would have no reason to be enemies of Arthur considering Ramsay is a suspect in the death of Domeric, Barbrey's nephew. I wrote her saying this because its what some patriots would do to protect their home, like what some of the colonials did during the American Revolution.
Guest, thank you, glad you liked it. And please, no need to defend the story, I challenge all to review the story whether they are bad, good, or neutral.
Lord Villarreal of house Grand, No, Arthur won't be taking part in the Forrester plot, he has his troubles with Ramsay at the moment.
Joharasbel, Thank you very much, glad you like it.
246vili, Thanks for that, I changed it. I never planned for Ashara to just stay dead, the plot for his character needed her alive and well.