Chapter 26: The Lord of Dreadfort

In the North...

Roose Bolton POV

Roose Bolton was in his study when suddenly, he heard knocking on the door. "Come in" and saw Master Wolkan enter, with a sad expression on his face, and his eyes lowered.

"What is it, Master Wolkan?"

"Your son's escort was attacked as he was traveling to the capital. Lord Domeric was killed," said Wolkan, with his eyes fixed on the floor.

Roose clenched his fist when he heard that. Domeric was a good son, and a worthy heir to the House. But he had neither his cold blood nor his cruelty. He was not like him, who could manipulate and play with the minds of men, he wasn't like the old Red Kings. Roose felt sorry for his son's death, and he felt a bit of sadness, even if he didn't want to show it, but now what worried him most was the future of his house. The only one who could continue the House, for now, was his bastard. That Mad Dog that leaves behind dead women and that is drawing too much attention

"There's a survivor," said Wolkan, and Roose said, "Bring him here."

After a while, he saw a young man, with blond long and wavy hair, who usually accompanied his son on his rides. He knew that he was the son of one of his Bannerman.

"Who are you?"

"Gryff of House Whitehill, my lord," replied the young man.

"Tell me, Gryff, who attacked you? And who killed my son?"

"The attackers wore the emblems of House Stark, and the attacker was Robb Snow, Commander of the Royal Army," he replied, but Roose knew that he was lying. Because Snow was not in the capital.

"You're lying," said Roose, getting up from his chair.

"No, my lord! The man who beheaded Lord Domeric was called like that. He had a beard and red-brown hair, and the wolf on his chest."

"Robb Snow is beyond the Wall with the king, so it wasn't him. Who else was there?"

"There was a man next to a tree, in the distance, with dark hair and beard. That's all I saw."

Now it was interesting, and turning back to the young man he said, "You Gryff will show me where the ambush occurred," Roose said.

"Yes, my lord," replied Gryff, and he sent him away.

As he left his study, Roose headed for his son's room. Upon entering, he saw that the master was there, while Domeric's body was on the bed, and his head was there. The master cleaning Domeric's body, of the blood, but Rosse stopped him and said, "On my return from the capital, we will give my son the burial."

Then he went out of the keep, and climbing his horse, he rode toward the place where the ambush happened.

After four days of travel, Roose arrived where the ambush took place, getting off the horse, he saw that the trees were on the ground and that there were no dead bodies there. Someone burned them or buried them.

"Is this where you were attacked?" Roose asked Gryff.

"Yes, my lord. And the man was up there," Gryff said, pointing his finger at a hill further up.

Roose said nothing because he guessed who was the man that stood there during the attack. This road passed near Stormcrow Castle, and that meant Daario Naaharis, and he was friends with Ramsey. So Ramsey killed Domeric to replace him. It wasn't a surprise. Roose has always warned Domeric about Ramsey, but he never listened to him. He always wanted a brother, and he wanted to increase their bond and their friendship. But little did Domeric know of Ramsey's intentions. And now, until he remarries, he must name his bastard his heir. He will punish the members of House Naaharis when he becomes King of the North. But for now, he needs his men Returning to his horse, he said to the man who was carrying the raven, and gave him the scroll, saying, "Send the raven to the capital with this scroll."

Then turning to his men who accompanied him, he said, " We travel to the capital." And they resumed their ride.

Daenerys POV

Daenerys wakes up in the morning with a great feeling of sickness, and she was lying in bed trying to make it pass, putting a hand on her mouth and the other on her belly. She was supposed to do a lot of work today, but she couldn't get up.

When she heard the door open, Daenerys saw Missandei enter, holding a tray and her mother, Rhaella, behind here, smiling.

"How are you feeling, Dany?" asked her mother sitting next to her on the bed and putting her hand on her face.

" I have morning sickness, mother, how do you think I am?" Snapped Daenerys, without thinking, and then feeling bad. "I'm sorry..."

"No, Dany. It' all right. It's normal to have these symptoms when you're expecting a baby. Here, have this herbal drink. It's good to fight the morning sickness, so afterward you can go and have breakfast in the Great Hall." Daenerys took the cup and drank its contents. It had a nice taste, and she felt the sickness was passing slowly.

Daenerys groaned, putting her head back on her pillow, and hugging Jon's pillow, which no longer smelled of him.

"These symptoms will pass, Dany, don't worry. And Jon will be back, daughter. Don't worry." Daenerys buried her face in her pillow, while hugged Jon's one. It was easy for her to say,' thought Daenerys. Her husband and the love of her life, was here, no beyond the Wall, in a land of death and heading towards an unknown danger.

But maybe it was the pregnancy that made her so worried and think.

After getting dressed Daenerys headed to the Great Hall to put something in her stomach, even though she had to be honest, she didn't really want it.

On entering, she saw the sellswords, Bors and Lena, sitting at the table. It was more than a week since they arrived, and she hasn't yet had the chance to talk to them more deeply, to know them better. Because during the day they were almost always with their men.

"Good morning," greeted Daenerys them, sitting at the king's table, while they were at another table, with the Unsullied escorting her.

"Good morning, your grace," they said, and Daenerys saw a smirk on Laena's face. This week she kept looking at her with filtered eyes, and she didn't like it. Later she will have to talk to her about her advances and the limits to which she must keep to.

Sitting down and waiting for the servants to bring their food, Daenerys said, "I hope your men are well in the houses we have offered."

"Yes, your grace. However, they are eager to fight, even though I am sure that At this moment the brothels of the kingdom will be full of coins. Sorry for the language."

Daenerys smiled and said, "It's alright. And you're right." She knew what the sellswords used their money for. Women and wine. Of course, the brothels of the North were not like those of the South or of Essos, at least for what they say, but thinking of this, Daenerys remembers the deaths that Ramsey Snow and his men caused. "I hope that your men will not overstep the limits, commander."

"What?" asked Laena and Bors at the same time, and Daenerys thought she expressed herself in the wrong way, almost as if she blamed them for something, so she quickly added, "Recently, the son of a lord and his men left a trail of dead women in the brothels of the North. I know those women are paid to satisfy all the needs of the clients, but certainly not to die."

"Ramsey Snow," said Bors, returning his attention to his plate, and Daenerys was surprised by that. She didn't mention that name, so either they heard stories about him or someone else told him about Ramsey.

"How do you know that name?"

"King Jon told us about a certain psychopathic bastard from the North, whom he met when he was younger, and who loved the torture and the suffering of the enemies and not only. So I guess the lord's son is him. Or am I wrong?"

"No. You aren't wrong." Daenerys said, shaking his head. "Remind me how you and King Jon met?"

"King Jon with his Unsullied, saved us in Essos from an army of Dothraki. He had some time with us and told us about his lands and his childhood." And when he said that, Daenery's mind wondered if there was something between Jon and Laena, even though he never was, with a woman.

"So you are here to repay that debt?" Daenerys asked.

"Yes. And because Jon became our friend that time," replied Bors.

"I thought sellswords only cared about gold, women, and wine."

"Not everyone is the same, Your Grace," replied Bors, with and offended expression, standing up, bowing and leaving the room. Laena, finishing her goblet, turned towards her and said with a smirk, "My offer is always valid," standing up as well.

But before she could leave the room, Daenerys said, "And that's exactly what I want to talk to you about, Laena." And the woman stopped.

As she got up, with her fingers crossed in front of her, Daenerys approached and said, "I want you to stop giving me those looks, to make advance, and most importantly, you don't have to touch me without my permission anymore, do you understand?"

"My apologies if I have offended you, Your Grace, I will not do it again," she said with a smile and a bow. "Now if you will excuse me, I will go to my men." Daenerys nodded, and when Laena left, she saw her father coming, with an unhappy expression.

"Everyone out," he said, to the servants that who were there. Daenerys' heart began to beat quickly, fearing that there were bad news from Jon, but her father said, "Lord Bolton's son was killed."

"What?" asked Daenerys, and her father gave her the letter. "Here says Robb Snow, but Robb went beyond the Wall with Jon. Who could it have been?"

"I don't know. Today the patrols came back and said that one of the roads leading to Winterfell was blocked by two fallen trees, and there were dead bodies there, with the seal of House Bolton."

"An ambush, Father?"

"Yes. And that road passed near the castle of House Naaharis, Stormcrow," said his father.

"Daario," Daenerys said, realizing, and closing her eyes in saying that name in disgust. "Daario is Ramsey's friend, House Naaharis is a bannermen of House Bolton, and Ramsey most certainly wants to be the next Lord."

"Yes. But we have no evidence about that, Dany. These are just our assumptions. The only thing we know is that it wasn't Robb, and they certainly weren't our soldiers, despite what Lord Bolton says in the letter," her father said, and then added, "and Roose Bolton is coming to Winterfell.

But as he was about to answer, Daenerys heard a knock at the door of the big hall, and it was Grey worm, "Roose Bolton ēza māzigon rȳ Ropatasōnar, aōha dārōñe." (Roose Bolton arrived in Winterfell, your grace.)

And Daenerys looked at her father with a confused expression. And the same expression he had. Swallowing, he said, "He must have sent the raven when he was already on the road. And he certainly arrived in a hurry here.

"Then it's better if we don't keep him waiting," said Daenerys, and as she was about to leave, her father stopped her, and said, "Daenerys. Roose Bolton is a dangerous man. Cold, without emotions, and cruel. He does not have the honor of the Stark. Jon's honor. Do not let him intimidate you. Show him the queen you are."

Daenerys nodded, as he went out and felt her heart beating fast. She was really worried about this meeting if she had to be honest because she never met him. He wasn't present at her wedding with the king. He was definitely in his castle plotting. But she heard a lot of people talking about him.

Entering Daenerys saw him. A tall man, with short hair and dark eyes, to scare away. And from that eyes, it could be seen the coldness and the cruelty, especially the mind of a man that knows how to play because he did show almost nothing. Sitting on the throne Daenerys said, "Welcome Lord Bolton. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to the capital?"

Lord Bolton was watching her before answering, with his icy gaze on here, and with his low and firm voice, "Thank you for receiving me, your grace. I come here to ask for justice for the death of my son Domeric."

"I'm sorry for the death of your son Lord Bolton, but I don't know what justice you're seeking," Daenerys replied in a firm tone. "Your letter mentioned that the attacker was Robb Snow, Commander of the Royal Army, but Robb Snow went beyond the Wall with the King."

"I know about, and it wasn't him of whom I was talking about. I want you to find the Traitor Stark soldiers who attacked my son."

"I assure you, Lord Bolton, that the crown will do everything it can to bring those who are responsible to justice. If there is nothing else, Lord Bolton, you can retire."

"Actually, there is something else. Now that I have lost my only legitimate son, Domeric, my House is without heirs," said Lord Bolton in the same tone, and Daenerys had an intuition about what he wanted to ask for. In fact, he was pulling out a scroll. "I still have a son, Ramsey Snow. As you can hear from the name he is a bastard, but for now, he is the only one I have. So I ask you to sign this document that legitimizes him as Ramsey Bolton heir to the Dreadfort."

Daenerys glanced quickly toward her father, who nodded and waved to the lord to give her the scroll.

"I would like you to sign it immediately, Your Grace. I have a lot of business to do at the Dreadfort," said Lord Bolton.

Daenerys sighed and her father, The Hand of the King brought her quill and ink, and the royal seal. Daenerys unrolled the scroll, reading it quickly. Sighing, Daenerys took the quill, signed the document, and applied the royal seal on the wax. Then she gives it back to Bolton. She knows that it was a really bad idea, to give power to a psychopath was a bad idea. She still waits for Daario's head in a spike. And justice for Irri and for every woman that they had reaped and killed from the brothel and in the North.

"Thank you, Your Grace. With your permission, I will take my leave."

But before he could leave, Daenerys said, not looking toward him, "Lord Bolton, I hope that in the wars to come you will not refuse our call to war as you did when the Wall was attacked?"

"Of course not, Your Grace. House Bolton will always be loyal to House Stark, and will march under their banners when the King will command."

"Thank you. I look forward to meeting your son when he will com the capital to swear allegiance to the crown," said Daenerys, without breaking eye contact and without breaking the queen's mask.

"Of course," Bolton bowed and left the hall. Daenerys sighed, leaning against the table that was there, and felt her father's hand on her shoulder, "You did well, Daenerys. I'm proud of you. You didn't let him intimidate you."

"When I saw him I was afraid, Father. Those eyes made my skin shivering. It could be seen the cruelty in his eyes, and how a patient he is, and a good player. Now I understand why many lords fear him."

"Yes. And you know that Ramsey Bolton will never come to swear allegiance to the crown. He will always find an excuse. And certainly, Bolton will not send his men to help us."

"I know. I wonder what Jon will do when he returns. He knows Rose and Ramsey Bolton better than me."

"Yes, he knows them, and in fact when he comes back, I will encourage him to march on the Dreadfort, after I will find the profs that I need to incriminate them."

"What?" asked Daenerys.

"What I'm going to tell you now, few people know. And you don't have to say anything about it, let alone face the person in question if you are provoked. Understand Daenerys?"

She nodded. In the room, there were only the Unsullied and Grey Worm, who approached them. The Kingsguards were not present since Daenerys did not believe that their presence was necessary.

"Catelyn Tully and the Boltons are working together to start a rebellion in the North and put her son on the throne, with her as regent. She also discovered that Jon delegitimized her children."

"And she thinks she can take the North only with the Boltons?" asked Daenerys, but then she remembered to which family she belonged. "The army of the Kingdom of the Riverlands."

" Indeed. For now, we don't have much evidence to accuse her, and that's why you have to be very careful around her. She doesn't know you're pregnant, does she?"

Daenerys shook her head to say no.

" Good. In your womb, you carry the future of this Kingdom. Whether it's a boy or a girl," said her father, putting his hand on her belly. "Be very careful."

Then turning to Grey Worm he said, "Ao se aōha vali ēdruta dōrī ivestragī zirȳla hen hen aōha sight, sir bona se dārys iksis qrīdrughagon." (You and your men must never let her out of your sight, now that the king is away.)

"Kīvin zijo va ñuha ābrar. Kesi dōrī gaomagon," responded Grey Worm, with his serious look, and with his hand behind. (I swear it on my life. We will never do.)

"Now you can go. Don't get too tired. I have a lot of work to do to protect this Kingdom," said her father kissing her on the forehead, and leaving the Great Hall.

As she headed to her room to change, Daenerys kept thinking about what her father said about Catelyn and her plots. Daenerys was afraid that somehow, Catelyn would find out she is pregnant and do something that she'll lose the baby, and she immediately put her hand on her belly.

"No one will take you away from me, little one," she told to the child that was growing up in her. She knew that not everything was safe yet, after all, she was only two months pregnant. Shaking her head, she kept walking. She had to go and train while she still could. When her belly grows, she will not be able to do it anymore.