Lord Robb Stark
His whole life he had grown up with the shadow of his family name hanging over him, growing up with the knowledge that he did not truly belong in the south but rather in the north along with his mother had been something that as a child Robb had quickly come to learn and accept. That his rightful bannermen had betrayed him and his family and sworn allegiance to a family that his own had raised up to their position of power, simply stung and made him long for Winterfell and the north with an intensity that he had never truly had for anything else. It was not something that he could simply turn off, it was something that seemed to consume him at times, this urge to head north and take his birthright back, that he could not and that he most likely would never live to see his father's home, only made him hurt more and it had over the years turned him into quite a somber and reserved man, someone who did not truly speak his thoughts aloud unless it was to either his wife or his mother.
He had been raised in Griffin's Roost and King's Landing and as such had come to appreciate the southern values that he knew would be frowned upon in the north. Things such as knighthood and chivalry had been what had kept him anchored and sane during the years when his mind and body would have driven him to do dishonourable things. Growing up in the south as well had also given him a better understanding of politics and the games that were played in King's Landing, something that had stood him in good stead during the various games that he and his wife had been forced into playing when they had been at court under the reign of King Rhaegar. Robb's step father Jon Connington had been a good man from what Robb could remember of him, he had done his bit to ensure Robb and Robb's mother felt comfortable in King's Landing and away from where they would have been had things gone better for Robb's actual father during the war. Once Jon Connington died, Robb moved to King's Landing and it was there that he became good friends with the former King Aegon, they had been thick as thieves getting into all kinds of mischief, and had trained together, Aegon had been his best friend at court, along with Loras Tyrell and Renly Baratheon they were all a big gang that operated together and maintained friendships long after their days at court ended. As to his cousin Prince Aemon, Robb had only met the Prince once, for he lived at Dragonstone under the eye of his grandmother Queen Dowager Rhaella, and as such had only come to King's Landing to compete in the tourney that was held to celebrate the wedding of Princess Rhaenys and Willas Tyrell.
Robb had married Princess Daenaerys, (who many thought was the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms, something that Robb fully agreed with) when he had turned sixteen and having grown up along with her, they knew each other very well and already loved each other before getting married. His wife was his most trusted confidant and someone he knew how to be free around, she made him smile and laugh in the way none else had been able to do, and he treated her like the goddess she truly was. They spoke about everything and did whatever they could for their children. Robb's oldest son Hoster had been born at the beginning of the new century, auburn of hair and violet of eye, his son and heir had grown up without the shadow of Winterfell and a legacy hanging over him. Of that Robb had been determined to ensure, and as such his son was much freer with his thoughts and feelings though he still held to the same code of honour that Robb did. Robb's second son Brynden, named after the uncle Robb had respected the most, was more reserved and calmer than his older brother and was often someone who played the voice of reason in the arguments that Robb's children were wont to have. His only daughter Minisa named after the grandmother he had never met was a sweet girl who was the perfect lady as well as being just like her mother in terms of her fire and her strength of mind. Robb loved his family with all his heart and did all he could to make sure they felt safe and secure. His eldest son Hoster had wed Janei Lannister some two years ago and as such had had a daughter whom he had named Catelyn after Robb's own mother, as to Brynden well his second son was betrothed to Denyse Bracken the heiress to Stone Hedge, as for Minisa Robb was still looking for someone to betroth her to, though she was only twelve and as such there was plenty of time before he had to truly start thinking of matches for her.
Having grown up in a time of war, Robb had not been completely surprised when he had become Lord of Riverrun following his uncle Edmure's death during the last war with the north, a war that had been quite costly and as such when he had become Lord of Riverrun he had done his best to get to know the people who would be helping him run Riverrun whilst he was out of the place and whilst he was there as well, and it seemed such a thing had done him a world of good, for he now had their unwavering loyalty as well as that of his usually quarrelsome bannermen. Something he supposed had been aided by the leadership he had displayed during the campaign against the Iron Islands. A campaign that his friend's son King Baelor had waged three years ago, that had seen Robb lead many of the sorties through the breach and it had been Robb who had slain Harlon Greyjoy himself, giving Urrigon Greyjoy Pyke as well as bringing the islands back into the kingdoms under the Iron Throne's domain. King Baelor had named him to the small council following that, and as such Robb served as master of laws following Randyll Tarly's death during the storming of Pyke. The other small council members included hand of the King Lord Willas Tyrell who had replaced Tywin Lannister who had died from all things a fever, master of ships Lord Stannis Baratheon, master of coin Ser Kevan Lannister, Grand Maester Gormon, Master of Whispers Lord Varys and finally Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Jaime Lannister. Once the king entered the small council chamber and bid them all sit, he spoke. "I thank you all for coming my lords. It has been three years since we regained the Iron Islands, and in those three years there has been plenty of peace in the south, the raidings have ended and Urrigon Greyjoy seems to be happy serving us though I suspect he might want to break free sometime soon. We must not give him reason to do so, and as such I have decided we must bring the north back into the fold as well. Lord Varys present to the council the findings you showed me."
Lord Varys a slippery customer if ever there was one, Robb did not trust him, but supposed that the man was doing his job then, his voice was silky as ever when he spoke. "The north is currently busy fighting a wildling invasion that is being led by Tormund Giantsbane. My sources tell me the Night's Watch was beaten at the battle of the Bridge of Skulls, their lord Commander and most of their numbers slaughtered by the combined might of the wildlings and what other else they brought south with them. There has already been fighting between the Umbers and the Wildling hordes, Lord Umber the Greatjon I believe he is called was slain by Giantsbane, and the Umber forces were broken, the wildlings are burning their way through the north and as such Brandon Mormont is marshalling his forces to repel them. Now if any is the perfect time to strike."
Ser Kevan speaks then and asks. "Has Brandon Mormont left the Moat unguarded, for it the Cassels are still present you can be guaranteed that Edrick Cassel will not allow us to pass through. They will have learnt their lessons from last time we invaded the north, and as such we shall need to go by sea, which means finally testing the loyalties of the Ironborn. I am not sure if that is a risk that we should take Your Grace."
Unsurprisingly Stannis Baratheon speaks up in agreement with Ser Kevan. "What Ser Kevan says makes a lot of sense Your Grace. Whilst the Royal fleet is much improved from the times of your grandfather, the Redwyne Fleet would need to sail up round the Iron Islands, and if Urrigon Greyjoy should decide to attack the Fleet then that would delay a great part of any attack on the north. White Harbour shall also be much stronger than it was during the times of your grandfather as well, and with the north having its own fleet then we could be seeing much more carnage and chaos than previous wars have brought."
The king does not look happy with these responses and voices his opinions as such. "Aye there might be uncertainty with the Iron Islands, but we shall never know unless we actually try and see what will happen. I will not sit here cowering on the Iron Throne simply because a bunch of savages have beaten both my father and grandfather before. They are distracted and busy right now, and as such it is the right time to take the north back for the Iron Throne. It worked with the Iron Islands, and it shall work with the north I am certain it will."
Surprisingly Lord Tyrell speaks up in favour of the king, when normally he would suggest a moderate course. "I believe his grace is right to want to act now. The north will never be as weak and open for the taking as it is now. The wildlings to the best of my knowledge will keep fighting and burning until there is nothing left of the north, we must act now if we want any further attempts to retake the north to mean anything. We cannot hesitate anymore my lords, it must be done."
The king nods at his uncle by marriage and then looks to Robb and asks him. "Lord Stark what say you?"
Robb is silent for a moment as he thinks on everything that has happened during his life because of one man's decision, and then he thinks on what he felt as a child growing up not belonging anywhere, and it is the most agonising decision he has ever had to make. Finally in a voice so soft the rest of the council has to lean forward to hear what he says, he replies. "It is the right time to invade Your Grace, we shall never have a better opportunity."
