'She wolf and fiery stag at the Wall.'
That was all the message read. The raven had arrived for Roose Bolton at Barrowtown via King's Landing, how long ago it was sent was anyone's guess. Over a month late at least. Poor Janos Slynt, it must be freezing at the Wall. Two other letter had arrived separately. One was from Arnolf Karstark, also reporting that Lord Stannis and Lady Stark had been at the Wall. He also sent word, in the same letter, that both had left the Wall. The third letter was from Lord Stannis and Lady Stark, to all the northern lords. 'Winter is coming.' Was all that she had written.
So Lord Eddard's little wife has not killed herself as Lord Mallister reported. Most likely the wolf pup lives as well. Where could she have hid the child? Surely if he had been there too it would have been mentioned. She certainly has a flair for the dramatic, but those simple words would be all she needed to rally support. Where have you gone now that you have left the Wall?
The Lannisters and Freys had both helped search for Lady Catelyn and Robb's wife for some time. It seemed that the Young Wolf's pregnant bride had fled for her homeland across the sea. She was unlikely to return. 'Why would she ever return to a land that was never hers to begin with?' When King Joffrey was killed, the Lannister forces went south again. The Frey's stopped their search when Lord Mallister reappeared and told the tale that Catelyn had killed herself and the child out of grief. With the recent news it was clear that the man was lying. However, the Mallisters were the concern of the Frey's, not the Boltons.
Catelyn Stark being alive and free in the north was troubling. Word had reached him that the Mormonts, Umbers, and mountain clans had sworn themselves to Lord Stannis. Roose also already harbored his doubts about the oaths of allegiance that had been sworn to him by the Cerwyns, Dustins, Hornwoods, Karstarks, Ryswells, Stouts, and Manderlys. Roose trusted Lord Manderly least of all. The man's allegiance seemed to be established solely upon the return of his son from the Twins and self preservation. He would need to watch Lord Manderly closely. He believed the Karstarks to be loyal, they had told him of their pledge to Lord Stannis. Why would they follow Starks, when the Young Wolf had killed Lord Rickard? The others he would need to watch closely as well, there was no way of knowing when any of them could switch sides.
He had the support of the Freys, of course. His kin by marriage and in shared killings. Still though, there were too many Freys. They were all waiting impatiently for their father and grandfather to die. What would happen then? Would all of the sons just accept the eldest being their leader, or would they turn upon one another? Half-brothers are no friends, he had seen that in his own bastard son and trueborn son. They Freys were only useful as long as Lord Walder lived.
Roose sipped at the wine in his cup as he looked out over the dark landscape. 'The North is mine.' He had the fake Arya Stark to marry to his son as soon as they reached Winterfell. As long as the people believed her to be Arya Stark they would be loyal. 'Perhaps even her mother would come to rescue her?'
Mothers were known to be rash creatures. They wanted to protect their young at any cost, even at the expense of their own lives. It was not a dead Catelyn Stark that he wanted however. Alive Catelyn was worth far more than she would be dead. 'She may yet be young enough to produce more children.'
She had produced six healthy children. The only one whom had died was Robb, and he had died with Roose's blade in his chest. He could still remember the look of confusion on young King Robb's face. The way he still tried to fight bravely as he was cut down and his men were slaughtered around him. The way his blood spilled out onto Roose's hand as he uttered his last shaking breaths. 'Jamie Lannister sends his regards.' Roose remembered saying the words as though he had just spoken them a moment past. The younger boys may truly have escaped from Winterfell. The true Arya Stark may have died, but the fake one would serve her purpose. A captive Catelyn could give him control of Stark's last heir to the North, and possibly give him a child of his own that could one day claim the Riverlands. The idea was delightfully perverse. If he could get her son, she would come for him, she would possibly already come just for the daughter. She would be willing to do anything to keep her last son safe, anything. He decided that in the morning he would send out men to search diligently for where the child could be hidden away. If they could not find the child, they would send letters throughout the north saying that they had the young Eddard Stark in their custody, and that Lady Arya Stark was to wed Ramsay Bolton.
He could possibly even rid himself of his troublesome bastard if he could get both his wife and Catelyn with child. Roose felt that he could get his Frey bride with child, but he felt that his son might kill any child she would produce. A new son would be a better leader, but he was old enough that he would die long before the child was of age. He pondered the idea though. Ridding himself of his bastard after a new son was born could have its benefits. Though to do so could also mean ending his family line if the child did not live to maturity.
Roose often wondered lately about the usefulness of his bastard son. He seemed as though he was becoming a larger problem than he was worth. Roose had always believed in having a quiet, peaceful rule. His bastard was disrupting that calm and seemed unwilling to listen. He had tortured and mutilated Theon Greyjoy, who would have been a priceless hostage. Instead of thinking, Ramsay used Theon as a toy, the same way he used every person who stood in his way. 'Will you some day try to kill me, my son? The way you murdered Domeric?'
Roose also had his doubts that Ramsay would be able to father and raise a child to rule. 'Would a child of yours be as wicked as you? The people of the north would rise against the two of you and House Bolton would become dust.' Killing Ramsay would be simple enough. An arrow in the right man's hand and it would be called a hunting accident or a casualty of war. It was something to think on at least.
In two days they would begin their ride to Winterfell. Then Ramsay and the so-called Arya Stark would be married. Then he would need to see where the tides of politics were taking them. The idea of possessing Catelyn Stark was so vivid in his mind now that planning her capture seemed of paramount importance. He could tell her of killing her first born as he pushed himself within her and gave her his child.
The north would follow him if he had Catelyn Stark in his control. They would not want to harm her children. The precious children of Lord Eddard Stark. Perhaps even the Riverlands would be concerned for her, she was the daughter of Riverrun. 'Daughter of Riverrun and Bride of the North. Oh what a prize you would be for me to own.'
So I posted a Ned chapter, as a new chapter 7, bumping everything up a chapter.
I had a reviewer awhile ago ask if I would do Roose's or Ramsay's perspective and I wasn't sure, but here is Roose.
I have a confession... I have been reading the books as I went and I finally finished yesterday :)
I will be doing a large edit/expansion (again) of early chapters soonish.
Next is either Brienne or Baelish, whichever cooperates more with me over the next week.
Thank you to all of your support!
