8th Month of 300 A.C. Winterfell

Lord Willam Dustin

The battle of Winterfell had been a nervous affair for Willam, for he knew he had been playing a very close game. The Boltons were at one another's throats, Roose and Ramsay were not getting along well, and Willam had been poisoning the bastard's mind against his father. It had been at his suggestion that his goodbrother had sent the bastard out to scout for Stannis Baratheon, and it had been at his suggestion that the Manderly men had gone out to fight. Wyman Manderly had been injured whilst mocking the Freys, and it seemed the man had become more rash and bold since news had come of Rickon Stark's arrival in White Harbour, something Willam was most pleased about. The man was now close to death, the wounds he had received more fatal than had first been thought. The battle had of course been carnage, Bolton men and Karstark men were outnumbered by a considerably margin and Willam knew more about warfare than Arnolf and Roose Bolton and so used that to his advantage. Arnolf Karstark and his sons and grandsons were dead, Roose had been caught and imprisoned in a cell for when the king arrived, and those Freys that had remained with them in Winterfell had been butchered.

The king had come to Winterfell triumphant, carrying Ramsay Snow's severed head on a spike as he rode into the castle Willam had had the pleasure of greeting him and handing Winterfell over to his possession. There had been much celebrating and feasting following that and Willam had been so very happy to be reunited with his son Roddy. It had been a very nervous few months for him as he had planned and plotted and fought for the King. The king had been crowned in the godswood, with all the lords present, presented with a crown of bronze and iron just as his ancestors had worn, and he had looked every inch a king then, magnificent and proud as the crown was placed atop his head. Many other things had come to pass as well in the time since Jon Stark had retaken Winterfell, Roose Bolton had been executed his guts pulled out and draped over the heart tree in the godswood, his son's head mounted on a branch of the heart tree for the crows and those Bolton men that did not bend were executed and tortured. Willam's son Roddy had been confirmed as Lord of the Dreadfort by the King and had been married to Bolton's daughter Romhilda, a fierce girl. Those Freys taken captive during the battle were executed, and Willam was glad to see them die. Much had been done in the short time since the king had returned to Winterfell, but there was still much to do. And that was why the King had called a meeting.

The king looked tired, but determined as he spoke. "My lords and lady, I thank you all for coming. I thank you all for, what you have done for my family. I would not be sitting here were it not for you all. And for that you have my eternal gratitude. And yet the job is not done. There is still an enemy left for us to fight. The Ironborn sit in Torrhen's Square, no doubt they have heard of what has gone on here, and plan to leave. We cannot allow that to happen. The Ironborn allowed Roose Bolton to take control of the north and as such they must be punished. I have Asha Greyjoy a prisoner, and I intend to use her as a tool to get the Tallharts freed. Once they are released we shall allow the Ironborn a chance to return to their ships before they are hunted down and killed."

There are grunts of approval and Willam asks. "Do you know where their ships are docked Your Grace?"

"I believe they are stationed near the closest estuary of the Saltspear to Torrhen's Square my lord. Why what are you thinking?" the king replies.

Willam considers for a moment and then says. "Why not send a small host on a forced march toward the Saltspear where that host can burn their ships before the Ironborn ever learn of your march. If it were to be either myself or my goodfather, it would look as if we were merely returning home. The Ironborn in command of the square is not the brightest. He will not know what is to come, but will more than likely will have men looking to guard his ships. We can use that and kill the men guarding his ships allowing you a chance to exchange prisoners and leave him trapped."

The king looks thoughtful for a moment and then nods. "A good plan my lord."

"A good plan, but what is there to stop Dagmar Cleftjaw from killing the Tallharts the moment he learns that there are men returning to Barrowton?" Cley Cerwyn asks.

At this the king smiles and says. "Asha Greyjoy has told me much and more during our conversations. The Cleftjaw sees her as a daughter and will do anything he can to ensure she is safe and sound. He is not so big a fool as to kill the only leverage he has for her safe return. He will be wary that is true, but I am sure Lord Willam can deal with any men he puts on his ships."

Willam nods. "It will be a small matter of riding quickly with a small group of men, a dozen or so, and dealing with what little force guard their ships. They will be confident of ensuring safe passage. They will think nothing of allowing for little guard on their ships. And that will be their mistake."

"How can you be sure of that?" Cerwyn asks. "They are Ironborn, surely they will want their ships guarded to the best of their ability."

"They have also held the square for nearly two years now. They will have become lax and as such will not be expecting a direct attack on their ships what with them still holding the Tallharts hostage." Willam replies.

Cerwyn still looks unsure but says nothing as the king speaks. "Lord Willam is correct. The Ironborn are arrogant and over confident they will believe their strength lies in the hostages. That will be their downfall." There are murmurs of approval and then the king speaks once more. "Now, how does Lord Manderly fair? I hear he took quite a wound during his little argument with the Freys."

Silence for a moment and then Willam speaks. "He is fairing okay, Your Grace. There are good days and then there are bad days for him. Whether he makes it or not depends entirely on the man himself."

"I do hope he decides to continue living. I owe the man much and more. The fact that my brother has returned from the wilderness is the biggest thanks I owe him. And of course the girl Shireen and Ser Davos's son Devan will remain as our guests until such time it is safe for Rickon to come to Winterfell." There are murmurs of approval at that.

"What happened to Stannis Your Grace?" Rodrik Ryswell, Willam's goodfather asks. "The man was something of a tool we could use as we march south if indeed we do march south."

The king smiles then. "Baratheon is dead. The man was a heathen, his death will serve as a reminder to those of his men thinking of fighting for Shireen, of what happens to those that try to make the north subservient. We were on our knees for three hundred years or there abouts, we will never bend again. If we march south, we do so to conquer and kill, nothing more and nothing less."

Willam voices his approval. "A good stance. For too long has the south dictated terms to us. We are stronger and bigger than most of them apart from the Reach. Should we march south Your Grace, I suggest setting an example. Of course with winter here we shall need to consider consolidating our food and people. We cannot die now, not when this winter looks to be the longest in living memory."

There are murmurs then. "We have brought the food in, our people are safe. The men hunger for more though Your Grace. They hunger for vengeance. We have broken every single enemy that faces the north in the north. Once the square is ours the north will be secure once more. I say it is time we go south and burn it. Burn it as they burned us." Mors Umber bellows.

"The lions need to be taught a lesson. Them and the fucking roses as well. I want lion blood for my son." Hothar Umber says.

"And the moment we march south, there will be a mass culling of prisoners. The Freys hold many northmen from the Red wedding, surely that must be a consideration." Willam's goodfather says.

"Actually my lord, if everything goes according to plan they will not. The Kingslayer had all those prisoners taken at the Red Wedding sent toward King's Landing. They will be leaving soon enough if they have not already left. There is a party of northmen waiting for them, the group escorting the prisoners shall be attacked and the prisoners will be freed. There will be no need for worry." Willam replies.

"How do you know this my lord?" the king asks sounding impressed.

"I have my sources my king. I know a black fish who has control over the resistance in the riverlands, waiting for you to come down as well." Willam replies.

The king smiles once more. "Then once the north is secure we shall march for the riverlands. And this time when the Lannisters are forced to their knees they shall not get back up."

There is a lot of cheering and banging of fists on tables at this and once the noise has died down Willam speaks once more. "As you know Your Grace, the girl that Ramsay Snow was supposed to marry was not your sister, she was not Princess Arya but someone else, and as a way to make it easier for you to return to your throne she died on the way to Winterfell. This was something of a burden for us all, but Bolton did not hesitate to get in contact with his contacts in the south. He meant for his bastard to marry your sister the Princess Sansa."

"Sansa married Tyrion Lannister though." The king says instantly.

"Exactly, and yet Bolton believed the imp to be dead, and so the marriage could go ahead. Your sister was to come north with some men of the Vale including Petyr Baelish, a Lannister man through and through. Working with the men from the Vale who came with them, I managed to ensure that when Baelish and your sister arrived in the north, Baelish was arrested and Princess Sansa was brought to White Harbour." Willam says.

There is silence then and then after a moment the king says his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you my lord. I do not know how to thank you enough for what you have done but thank you. I will not forget the service you have done for my family. Once the Ironborn have been dealt with, my brother and sister shall return to Winterfell. Now my lord, has there been any word on my other sister Arya? Do you know where she is?"

Willam bows his head. "Unfortunately not. I have been unable to locate her. But I will keep trying my king. And you shall be the first to know when I find anything out."

The king nods, and then someone else asks. "Now my king, I do not mean to pry, but you have just reclaimed Winterfell, we cannot have the succession thrown into confusion. You must marry and soon."

There is a moment's silence and then the king says. "I can think of no one more loyal or true than a Dustin to marry. My lord, you have a daughter do you not? Bethany?" Willam nods. "Then I shall marry her. It is time you were recognised for the valuable service you have given my family."