ASHARA I

Ashara was talking to Ser Rodrik when the screams sounded. Something bad had happened and the guards were running, not even taking the time to inform her of the reason for the uproar. One of them, a young man named Patreck finally stopped before her. Ashara saw the worry in his eyes and took pity on him.

"My lady, an assassin infiltrated the castle and tried to murder your son Brandon. Luckily Ser Arthur has saved him."

Ashara nodded and ran worried to the rooms of her son, who had not yet woken up. Poor Brandon's accident worried her because she hadn't woken up since. He even missed his brother Vorian's wedding in White Harbor, but in Winterfell they held a smaller ceremony against the Old Gods. A ceremony that brought her a few tears, because her eldest son was no longer a boy but a man.

"Mother!" cried Vorian.

"Where is Arthur?" asked Ashara.

"He is with Bran and Ramsay"

Ashara tried not to frown at the mention of Bolton's bastard. So she simply followed her son into Bran's room, where Wylla Manderly, her ladies-in-waiting and Arthur and Ramsey themselves were waiting. She was greeted with courtesies that she flatly rejected, she just wanted to make sure her Bran was okay, so she ran to hug him.

"Ser Rodrik, I want this killer's viscera to hang in the heart tree" Ashara's order shocked everyone except Ramsey and Ser Rodrik.

"Mother!" protested Vorian, despite not believing in the Seven.

"I want the word to spread that whoever messes with the Starks will suffer the same fate."

"Ser Rodrik," Ramsay intervened "I can help you in the task."

Ashara nodded pleased. They then took the body out of the room. The Boltons sadism did not please her, although it could be channeled in her favor.

"Auntie", said Arthur.

"What happened?" She replied, still furious.

"I was walking with Ramsay to visit Bran when we heard the women's screams, so we ran to help them. Luckily we were not late, the murderer did not expect to meet Lady Wylla and her ladies. The rest was easy, he was only armed with a dagger, so he fell before our swords.

Ashara released her son into a coma and turned to see Arthur.

"But the dagger is made of Valyrian steel.

"How do you say?" asked Ashara in surprise.

"As she hears it, Lady Stark", intervened Wylla Manderly who until now was sobbing in Vorian's chest. "For2 an ordinary assassin he was very well armed, even a Valyrian steel dagger costs a fortune.

"Mother, we have to do something," Vorian said. "Let me go to King's Landing to inform father."

"No", Ashara said. "You will stay here, I will go, Ser Rodrik will accompany me."

Vorian nodded.

"My cousin", he said, "you know I love you like a brother, but today you have shown me that I can trust you with much more than my life. When my mother comes back from King's Landing you will have a castle for you to rule and live in with Jeyne. I will write to my father for his disposition."

Ashara was shocked, she didn't expect her Vorian to ennoble Arthur. Perhaps as a means of forcing Vayon Poole to shake his daughter's hand. Ashara had not been present, but she knew that the butler did not answer yes or no but left it in a maybe.

"No need, cousin", Arthur replied modestly.

"It's impolite to refuse a gift from your feudal lord, Arthur", replied Vorian with a smile. "You saved the son of the Warden of the North, you saved his daughter-in-law, the daughter of a powerful Lord. By your merits you deserve a lordship."

"The nobles of the North will never accept a Sand as lord", Arthur reiterated.

"Don't underestimate yourself, cousin. As the son of a legend, you're appreciated in the North."

"I'm better suited for a masterly house."

"If that's what you want, so be it. You will found a masterly house in Sea Dragon Point, the castle will be ready by the end of the year, give it the name you want. Also think of a name for your home.

Ashara saw the sparkle in Arthur's eyes as she nodded.

"Thank you, my lord", he replied, kneeling.

"Now go and knight Ramsey Snow. Tell him that I also decided to legitimize him, when the King orders it, he will be known as Ramsey Bolton.

Ashara was mute, she didn't expect that last gift, so when Arthur left the room, she could only order Vorian to meet her in her private rooms.

…

Later that night, Vorian came to her room, not as the boy he raised but as a true lord. He was not happy, he was still worried about his brother and his wife, even so, he was not sad. As if he had a bitter sense of victory on his face.

He didn't say a word, just poured himself a Dornish wine and waited for his mother to say whatever she had to say.

"Why did you legitimize Bolton's bastard?"

"He saved our brother, he deserves it."

"Arthur is not a Dayne now, be honest with me, what do you intend?"

"When the King committed Dyanna to Prince Joffrey, he ruined our chance of allying with the Boltons. You know that thanks to my marriage to Wylla we not only have the friend of the Manderlys, but of all those in their area of influence. We have Woolfields, Lockes, Hornwoods and even House Flint of Widow's Watch.

Ashara nodded, while her son paused to drink more wine.

"If Dyanna had married Domeric, we would not only have the friend of Dreadfort's Boltons, but the Ryswells and the Dustins. You know how little Lady Barbrey appreciates us, just as you also know that Domeric is Lord Ryswell's heir. We would have more than half of the North in our favor.

"You sound like your father", Ashara replied proudly.

"My brothers can still marry the other houses in the North, but not the Boltons. Legitimizing Ramsey flatters Lord Roose. Ramsey could be Dreadfort's heir while Domeric inherits the Rills, thus solving Lord Rodrik Ryswell's troubled inheritance.

"And what about Lady Dustin?" How do you know Domeric will agree to your plan?

"Lady Dustin can name Domeric as her heir, I know she appreciates him very much."

"Isn't that too much power for the Boltons?"

"Unfortunately, it is", sighed Vorian. "But I'll come up with something. I know that Lord Rodrik Ryswell's quarrelsome cousins have a mother Dustin; one of them could take the surname Dustin, preventing the house from becoming extinct, and at the same time allowing Domeric to be the sole heir to the Rills."

Ashara was surprised, her firstborn showed great wisdom, he would undoubtedly be the best lord of Winterfell in a long time. She continued to argue with him until they reached an agreement that they would communicate to Ned at King's Landing, who was really the only one who could authorize it.

Thus, while she traveled to the capital, Vorian would meet with Lord Ryswell, Lady Dustin, and Lord Bolton to discuss his plan. He would also announce that Arthur would found his own house at Sea Dragon Point.

No doubt he was cementing his legitimacy as Winterfell's heir to it.

"My beloved son, my violet wolf," Ashara muttered to herself, full of pride.

Notes

Doubt a non-native English speaker. Is the word "mistress" always synonymous with lover?

I know it's the feminine of "master," the title Masterly Houses use; then, the wives of the "master" what title should they use?