Royce Bolton - Late 131 AC

He and his party rode through the raging snowstorm of whose power hadn't been seen in an age, was succeeding in making the northern countryside a little more white and the lives of all the people who lived in and around Winterfell, an icy hell. He had thought that the Old Gods were either punishing the Starks and their smallfolk or heralding the events that would come. He didn't want to think on how that made him shiver in fear.

He thought back to a day previous when he had received the raven summoning him to the Stark fortress. It simply said 'Your Warden summons you to Winterfell immediately, attendance is compulsory. Deny me at your peril.' He didn't need any kind of trouble from Starks and he certainly didn't feel like challenging the power of Winterfell. Not now anyway.

It certainly got his attention and knowing that Cregan Stark was not the kind of man that wouldn't fulfill his promises and threats. He gathered a guard of five light horsemen and ten heavy horsemen and left the Dreadfort with all haste. As he fought the elements he thought of his children; Rodgar his heir, a little by more savage than most and rough around the edges but he would prove a fine Lord Of the Dreadfort when the time would call for it, his twins Myrielle and Arianna both of them were beautiful and made him more proud than he could ever say.

By the time he had reached the northern capital, majority of the northern lords were not there. He was content to wait for their arrival, as he believed it wouldn't be long till they came and not only that he needed time to come up with a way strengthen his own house through marriages and alliances.

There was no better opportunities do so with all the highlords of the north assembled. An hour later, the only lords that were remaining were the Reed and Flints of the Neck, the Magnars of Skagos and Umbers of the Last Hearth. He put their lateness down to a combination of bad weather and distance.

The lords that had assembled were mostly meandering about just talking, eating or enjoying the sights of Winterfell. Lords Manderly and Hornwoods talked to each other quietly and from the foolish smiles they had it was probably just minor topics that didn't involve him. The mountain clans did everything loudly from eating, to drinking even when they bloody whispered he could hear them from across the hall. Stark still had to make himself shown, as he had been here for the better part of the day and yet he seen with neither hide nor hair of the man.

By morn of the following day all of the lords north of the neck had arrived and had been told to congregate in one of the larger chambers beneath the Great Keep. When he arrived there he saw a Painted Table made of weirwood and ironwood.

Royce had heard of the Painted Table that lay within Dragonstone which was famously used by the first Aegon when he planned to conquer Westeros. He couldn't tell whether if the monstrosity of wood that lay before was a good imitation or not due to the lack of knowledge. Royce further wondered if this was the table that the Kings of Winter had used to conquer the North millennium ago. There were banners and markers to show where the different keeps where with the house which was lord or master of it.

The chamber itself was unremarkable; it had torches on either side that gave it an amber glow, the walls were uncannily smooth and seemed to be carved from stone. The doors were large but plain and around the Painted Table were ironwood thrones that would fit even the largest Umber. As most lords took their seats around the Painted Table, they finally took saw their missing host and liege.

Cregan Stark sat on a throne of weirwood at the head of the table which ended abruptly at the Wall; his own seat was eerily reminiscent of the Winter Seat that served as the throne of dozen Stark kings before him within the Great Hall. He didn't look or even acknowledge that his lords were waiting for him. He simply gazed down at the table focusing intensely on the North, the seas that bordered it and the Wall which was north of it ironically.

When his Warden finally looked upon them, his look was cold and victorious. His voice was grand and his tone was proud; "my lords, welcome to Winterfell and please forgive me for being lackluster in host skills." A murmur of acceptance went up through the room. Bolton snorted at that inwardly at as he thought that Stark could have called their daughter's whores and their sons craven and they'd still have loved him all the same. "My lords as you know, winter has ended and with it the Dance of Dragons. We supported Princess Rhaenyra in the hopes that should, no when we win, we would be given a Targaryen princess as Lady of Winterfell. Which would in turn unite us with our southern brethren and immensely strengthen the North in such a way that hadn't been seen before" at this point Cregan's voice was uplifting and hopeful, his face in a smile that warmed the room far more than the torches ever could.

It was gone quicker than any could expect as the smile, fell into a scowl and the hope turned into an anger that scared him. That kind of anger in a Stark usually led to a legendary war that lasted an age and would kill a generation.

"But of course we are quickly reminded of the lack of honor all southrons have and our gracious king went back on his deal. He has shown himself to be a dishonourable man and an enemy of the North, for how can you trust a king that doesn't keep his word." the words are vicious, rebellious and the wrong company it would be cause for execution. Although if any the words spoken here were heard by the king, the accusation would be denied by most lords of the north; Royce thought to himself.

Stark continues; his voice calm and quiet just barely loud enough to be heard, it reminded Royce of the calm before the storm and filled with a conviction; "My lords, I have ignored this slight as the king as seen it right to compensate us." This didn't surprise him as it did all the other lords assembled, as shown by their gasps and murmurs as if they were small-minded hens. It satisfied him as they finally got to the topic that was so great that it demanded the attention of highlords such as him. Stark didn't waited for his vassals to once more regain silence, and carried on the next part of this... meeting as it would be called.

He crouched down to lift something beneath the Painted Table, it required the strength of two arms and when he lifted it there was a grunt of effort. It landed with a thump that quickly stole the attention of all those who were still whispering to one another. It looked to be a strong chest with iron lock, the sort of which that promised to have some kind of valuable within and almost attracted pirates like moths to the flame.

Stark open the lock while his audience looked on expectantly each of them wondering what it could be; Valyrian steel weapons so plentiful that every lord could wield one, more gold than a man could spend in a hundred lifetimes, a crown perhaps symbolizing independence from the Iron Throne? The last one was a fool's fancy as the Targaryen would rather jump into the Blackwater from Dragonstone before they allowed a kingdom independence. But the previous though were possible.

Their eyes stared at the chest with a hunger that would terrify a newlywed wife before the bedding. The chest was unlocked and pushed forward, the gold within flowed out as if it common water, and not the lifeblood of empires. The chest must have been bigger on the inside as overflowed the north, went as far as Seaguard and spilled over the sides each tiny ting of a gold coin falling was more valuable than the lives of the a hundred smallfolk that could have lived off it.

"My lords, for too long have we simply sat back and let others decide who sit upon the Iron Throne, for too long have we allowed the southrons to believe them our betters!" Stark's voice was thunderous, his words would shake the hearts of men and rally all men his cause which had not made himself evident. "Sons of the north, rise with me into a golden age that will last longer than any other before it! Victory is our destiny so long as I command, now who is with me?!"

"We are with you!", "Command us!" their cries were endless and the same they demanded a goal, a plan to aim this new found fire within them. Even he would fight under the direwolf banner till the bitter end. "With this gold loving gifted to us by the Targaryens, we improve our lands, our keeps, our very selves till none would dare challenge us!" A roar came forth to answer him.

"Lords Magnar and Manderly begin build warships and navies for the new Winter's Armada, gold will be of no importance for us. Make them no larger than fifty." While Manderly looked jubilant at the opportunity of a navy, Magnar was not nearly as excited, "My liege, Skagos was banned use of any kind of warships by your ancestor when we bent the knee to Winter eons ago can I believe that such a ban is over?" his voice was full of cautious hope. "Yes. Qhor begin the construction immediately and if you need to also spend some coin on the improvement of ports also spread this news with the rest of the lords of Skagos. Impress me and I shall give you more power than the rest of the Skagosi lords and make you the Lord of the Bay of Seals", the Lord of Kingshouse was content with the answer and leaned back onto his throne.

"Lords Woolfield, Locke, Ryswell and Flints of Widow's Watch and Flint's Finger after this meeting ends you will be given charters and enough gold to build and expand port towns and even cities should you wish it on the Shivering Sea, the Blazewater and Bite. You can build small fleets of no greater than ten ships to protect your ports." The lords mentioned were pleased to increase their strength in such a way especially in the terms of a navy, although Royce pondered exactly how much money the Starks were given and what kind of mad king would give such gold freely.

"Lord Mormont, you will be made Lord of the Bay of Ice. With this you will immediately begin doubling fishing and whaling expeditions in the Sunset Sea, Bear Island will become the centre of all northern trade in that region. Expand however you see fit and your navy will be no greater twenty." This was a complete change for House Mormont, as previously they were mainly known for female warriors they could now potentially be one the richest northern houses alongside House Manderly.

"Lords Karstark and Bolton, you will build port-towns on the Bay of Seals and the Weeping Water respectively. If you are able build fleets of no larger than five-". Royce couldn't hold his tongue any longer and was forced to interject; "My lord, I am forced to ask why? I and Karstark are stronger upon land that we are on the sea; these ports will only place needless expenses on us that we don't need as neither of us trade." "It's is better to have a fleet and not need it than need a fleet and not to have it, and as for trade; just wait I'll get onto that soon. Royce acquiesced with Stark's answer and merely waited for when they would get onto trade.

"As for myself, I shall turn Wintertown into a permanent city through all seasons that will serve as the heart and capital of our great nation. The specifics of the city would bore you and I shall not go into it. As for the planned towns and ports that we intend to build, they shall receive a period of grace where in a period of five years after their completion they shall pay no tax, this is intended to invite as many people to our towns and cities as possible."

This was a stroke of genius as it not only invite commoners by the thousands to live the towns, it made the lords that had thought about dragging their heels in following his orders do them twice as quickly.

"As Lord Bolton made clear, what is the point in ports and fleets if there nothing to export? For this reason, I have sent more than two thousands of my own men led by my cousins Benjen, Brandon and Elric to perform a complete geographic survey of the North." Sensible thought Bolton

"They have been tasked to chart and examine the north; dig up the hills and mountains, grade the rivers and lakes. Their aim will be see what minerals we can export in the north. They will have a time period of the three years to complete this task and once they we are aware of the mineral resources we will begin mining and exporting."

This made sense to Royce and no doubt many other lords as by the time the survey would be done and the mines and quarries completed they would be able to immediately begin exporting the minerals through the newly built ports. Although he wondered; Winterfell was in the centre of the North and had no nearby rivers to build a port, the Starks wouldn't be nearly as rich as any of the Houses that had one how could they maintain their position as Lord Paramount without the gold that other houses would gain?

"Finally, with whatever remaining coinage we would have remaining alongside the gold of Winterfell. The keeps of Moat Cailin and the Wolf's Den will be rebuilt and given to loyal lords of my choosing." Royce knew those words to be a farce; Stark would most likely give those keeps to his kin and have them marry a Manderly and Reed respectively.

While the rebuilding of the Wolf's Den didn't bother him at all, the rebuilding of the Moat did. The Starks had only ever threatened to rebuild the Moat to scare or discourage any southrons from invading the north, to actually build the damn thing spoke volumes of how Stark felt and the man felt threatened, scared even. Royce could work with that and manipulate it to his own needs.

"With the gold of Winterfell, I'd also intend to create a task-force that would defend the north from both threats internal and external; Roddy Dustin showed me how effective a small group of skilled men can change a war. To ensure that future generations remember his sacrifice, I will fund a standing army of the North, a force forever ready to fight and die in service to this proud land!" This received unanimous support for the task-force and many lords offered their sons to join this force, even he agreed with it as the task-force would give his son an outlet for his more violent tendencies.

Stark looked at him with a smile on his face its intent was discernible; "Bolton and Stark are the greatest Houses of the north with wars that will be forever remembered in history. When our strength joined together, we threw back the Andals and crushed the Valemen with ease. My lord let us join Houses, have one of daughters marry my only son. If it would please you I would be happy having him fostering at the Dreadfort once he comes of age. What say you?"

This was better than any deal he could have made, his daughter as Lady of Winterfell and his grandchildren as future Wardens of the North. The fact that he would be allowed to foster the child made it simply too sweet to deny. "It would be an honour onto both myself and my house." Stark would have his undying allegiance.

Cregan Stark

It hurt him to give his son a Bolton for a wife but he was certain that it would benefit House Stark considerably. After all every great lord needed a mad dog, and which was dog was madder than a Bolton?

AN

I'd like to say thanks for everyone who favourited and followed especially to all those who reviewed. I will try to make an update every four days. But please be patient should I fall behind. Massive shout-out to VVSINGOFTHECROSS for inspiring me to write. And once more thank you all.