I do not own Game of Thrones


Roose Bolton PoV

The descendant of the former Red Kings had finally reached Winterfell. He had come in answer to the call for banners of his current liege lord Eddard Stark.

It had been a long time since they had rebelled but Boltons had never stopped looking for weakness in Starks. Roose was not like his predecessors, he actually respected the Starks of Winterfell aside from their kindness. He had no intention to betray them unless they proved to be failures of epic proportions. With the military genius of Stark bloodline combined with his practical advice could make North near invincible, but if only they had the stomach for it instead of hiding behind the veil of honor.

All of those plans failed spectacularly when the heir to the North Brandon went and shouted for the crown prince's head like a common thug, and then their lord Rickard went to capital putting his faith in a mad king. He could not say if their deaths were pathetic or spectacular! Probably both? And then the second son Eddard seemingly started showing signs of madness due to shock of the news. Before this, he was known as the quiet wolf at best or the honorable fool at worst. Many believed him to have become more of Jon Arryn's son than that of Rickard Stark's.

It wasn't common knowledge among small folk or even lower lords but significant lords all knew this by their spy networks. Some had even given him the amusing nickname of 'Maddard Stark'. He was disappointed, but maybe it was a sign from the gods that it was time for them to take over. Now the question was whether to do it now or in the future. Surely Ned's illogical actions would weaken the goodwill earned by the Stark family for eight thousand years so the Northmen would see him as savior when the time came. If he acted now, he would have to kill Benjen as well at the same time which would not be easy.

He needed more time to decide as this decision could not be rushed. Plagued by indecision of when to enact the betrayal, he was shocked to see his lord on the Winter throne. Eddard Stark looked completely different from his imagination. He seemed to have aged considerably, his nails were long and unkempt while his eyes were sharp like that of a wild animal. Roose wondered if he was actually looking at a wolf. No, A direwolf. The usually boisterous Umbers were silent too so this must be a recent development. It would not do to be hasty, he must first take a measure of the man-beast in front of him.


The whole swearing and promises of the bannermen was tedious to say the least. Which was why Roose was caught off guard when he was called by Eddard Stark for a private meeting. He wondered if his intentions were caught and he was going to be disposed off? Surely not? At a time when all the bannermen were needed if they were to have any chance at victory. But madmen were not logical, their king was a shining example of that.

Now sweating a bit, he went to his lords solar. The decorations had been removed making it look even gloomier than normal. That as saying something given how simple and boring Northern solars were compared to their gaudy southern counterparts. Various weapons were scattered about within the reach of the lord, including the legendary two handed longsword of Valyrian steel named Ice. This looked more like his dungeon of torture back in Dreadfort rather than a place for civilized conversation.

"My lord." He bowed stiffly.

"Have a seat, lord Bolton." Maddard Stark said.

He sat down and looked around but was still tense. The Stark looked at him for a period of time while judging him before speaking again.

"Lord Bolton, you know that the history between our families has not been the best. That is ancient history though. If we are not united now, the age of the first men will end and North will be taken over by the Andals." Maddard Stark said.

Roose wholeheartedly agreed to this point. As much as he wanted to rule the North, he did not want it to be vulnerable to Andal culture and faith of the seven. That was not to say that the old gods were better in every way. In most ways they were though and even the relatively barbaric customs were more profitable to him.

"I fully understand my lord. I intend to fully stand behind you. If you would listen to me in return, we would not fail." Roose somewhat boldly added.

Eddard's eyes narrowed making Roose to immediately go still. Where was all of his bravery coming from when his ancestors had always been so very cautious?

"Do you remember the pact about flaying, lord Bolton." Maddard said while running his hand lovingly over his sword Ice.

"Of course. Flaying is outlawed. I intend to uphold that law." Roose said calmly while seething internally.

"That is correct. Flaying is outlawed in the North." Maddard Stark said while grinning.

Roose was disappointed, but something in that statement caught his attention and his eyes widened while looking at his lord.

"... You mean ..."

"Everything south of Moat Cailin is not in the North." Eddard Stark grinned savagely.

Roose remained frozen for a long time with his mind blank. Then he felt enlightenment or awakening unlike anything any lord Bolton had ever experienced. He dropped on his knees and said the pledge with all his heart.

"To Winterfell I pledge the faith of Dreadfort. Hearth and heart and harvest I yield up to you, my lord. Our swords and knives are yours to command. Grant mercy to us sinners and we shall never fail you in your quest for vengeance. I swear it by earth and water, by bronze and iron, by ice and fire."

Things like treachery and power were furthest from his mind. A Stark was willing to sacrifice his honor to support a Boltons inhuman traditions. Mad or not, to him Eddard was the greatest lord to ever live and the only one he would ever serve. And for those who stood in the way of his lord, his knives were sharp.


I have come across a lot of Targaryen wank and even many Stark wank stories. They weren't really logical but I enjoyed several of them for some mindless fun.

But recently I encountered one where Jon calls Eddard an evil kinslayer for only protecting him and not making him the king by sacrificing his family and kingdom or licking his boots. It was so stupid that I just had to write an evil Eddard Stark for comparison to the naively stupid but good person he is.