228 A.L. Long Lake

Lord Harmond Umber

As he looked out at the men camped around him Harmond found his thoughts turning to the last time he had fought at Long Lake. Willam Stark had been alive then and had been Lord of Winterfell as well, the man was beloved by his lords and his people, and as such Harmond had always greatly respected him. That both he and his brother Artos had died from fighting those bloody wildlings was a sad thing for the north, for they had lost two great men during that battle. Of course that had left a child as Lord of Winterfell but, Harmond had remembered the stories his own father Jon had told him about the chaos that had come during the Dornish wars when Cregan Stark had left a child in charge, never again would the north see such chaos. Once the war with the wildlings had ended tensions had begun reaching boiling point and the factions began arming themselves, House Umber had sided with Donnor Stark, mainly because the man was the best military commander that the north had had in centuries, and because of the fact that Harmond had served under his command during Long Lake and during earlier wars with the Harmond had served under his command during Long Lake and during earlier wars with the Blackfyres, and that despite appearing unfriendly the man did care for northern traditions and did not want to let the southerners in Winterfell ruin them, and as such wanted northern independence something Harmond and the other far northern lords also wanted.

And so when Donnor had written to him some three moons ago asking him to begin marshalling his men for the march on Winterfell Harmond had responded immediately, and had called his men in all 5,000 of them. They had marched from Last Hearth only to find the crossing blocked by men from Hornwood under the command of Lord Edgar Hornwood who had declared for Errold Stark. As such Harmond had called for a war council before battle began and as he looked about the tent for the men who were to join him, there was his son and heir Donnor a strong lad, Stevron Snow his bastard uncle, Artos Umber his brother and finally Beron Norrey a experienced man who had fought in the first Blackfyre war and against the Ironborn. Harmond spoke then. "Beron what news have your scouts brought us of Hornwood's movements?"

Beron was silent for a moment before he said. "Hornwood has positioned men on the eastern and southern banks of Long Lake and as such has also sent a scouting party towards the bridge readying them for whatever breach manoeuvres we might attempt."

Harmond nodded and said. "So the man still has not learnt from when the wildlings snuck up on his rear during Long Lake. Truly the man must still be as green as grass to attempt such a move, when we have more men then he does."

"But father," his son Donnor asked. "Would that not be what Edgar Hornwood is expecting of us? That will think his move is rash and foolish and that we shall send men to the eastern bank to overpower them there? Surely we should play along with the man's ploy and then crush him on the bridge and leave his two other forces high and dry. After Bolton is neutral and Karstark is sending men to attack from the rear."

Harmond was silent for a moment as he considered what his son had said, he turned to his uncle and asked. "Stevron what do you make of my son's suggestion? Do you think it has merit?"

Stevron was a small man, his mother being a villager from Last Hearth. He was a silent man as well but when he spoke all listened. "Aye I think Donnor's suggestion has a lot of merit. I do believe we must play along with Hornwood otherwise he will bring his men around and flank us before Karstark can get here and we shall be damned. Besides what could the risk be?"

Harmond nodded in acceptance and called the council meeting to an end. Once he was armoured and ready he mounted his horse and waited for a moment before unsheathing his sword and leading the charge towards the bridge of Horror. The bridge was big enough to get three horses across and so that was what they did, finding the entrance free, they rode at full pelt and smashed straight into Edgar Hornwood's men who had not thought to find the Umbers riding across towards them. Harmond brought his sword forward and slashed and hacked his way through the men in his path, swinging and hacking he cut man after man down to the ground as if they were nothing more than flies. They fell to the ground and his greatsword was bathed in red, the blood of the enemy painting it in a very dark light. On he went, swinging his sword hacking and slashing clearing a way through, bodies began to fall to the ground or into the lake itself, but they pushed on, they held the bridge and soon enough they were onto the east bank.

The fighting on the east bank was fierce and Harmond felt his blood sing with joy at that. Swinging his sword he cut through green boys who fought with more fierceness than sense and he laughed aloud as they fell to the ground dead with nothing more than stumps left, where once their hands had been. His sword was bathed red, and when he came across Edgar Hornwood himself he roared in triumph and cut his way through to the man, who like a craven fled. Harmond roared and spurred his horse onto follow the man cutting down whoever came in his way, his focus purely on Edgar Hornwood, he slashed and hacked but more men seemed to be coming towards him. Still his sons Willam and Beric paved a way through them for him and so he was disappointed to find that Edgar Hornwood was already dead his body littered with arrows. Karstark arrows. The battle of Long Lake ended with a Umber victory and another setback for Errold Stark. The victory gave Donnor Stark another hold in the north for once Harmond marched for Hornwood the castle surrendered and declared for Donnor Stark.

228 A.L. Greywater Watch

Lord Howland Reed

It had been six months since the civil war between the Stark brothers had erupted. Since then many small skirmishes had erupted. Skirmishes in the Wolfswood between House Glover and House Tallhart which had seen the Glovers win and the Tallharts retreat behind closed doors at Torrhen's Square giving Donnor control over the Wolfswood, there had been a fight between forces between the Manderlys and the Dustins at White River which had seen the Dustins win and Lord Manderly and his heir die at the hands of Brandon Stark. The Harmond Umber had beaten Edgar Hornwood and taken his castle, giving Donnor the advantage. Whilst Howland bemoaned that there was war in the north, he supposed that it was necessary if they wished to achieve independence something that Howland and the lords of the neck desperately wanted. After all the north had done nothing but suffer at the hands of the Iron throne for the past two hundred years, and so now it was time for them to have their own time and freedom once more.

Of course being down in the Neck meant that Howland had not really had much to do with the war that had been happening north of Moat Cailin, something that had greatly frustrated him, for though the Cranongmen were not usually a martial people, this was a cause Howland greatly believed in and desperately wished to contribute to. His role so far had been mainly fighting Freys, something his people had been doing for six hundred years, they had fought the Freys and sent them packing back to their two towers. They had even managed to capture Ser Edos Frey the brother of Walder Frey and were holding him hostage for Donnor. There had been another minor fight with some forces from Seagard that had sailed into the neck through the marches, Howland had made sure to have their boats burnt and their men killed or fed to the lizard lions. He had sworn to protect the neck for Donnor and he meant to hold to that promise.

So far if he were being honest all did look good for Donnor, they had won two of the battles that his faction had fought in, and Brandon and Errold Stark seemed to be pondering their own moves. If Donnor could break Errold quickly and end the threat that the Manderlys posed with their resources and wealth, then perhaps he could take Winterfell and force Brandon Stark to surrender. If not then Howland suspected the war would last for much longer than the previous civil war had lasted, and that one had seen the Manderlys triumph over the rival factions to gain influence in Winterfell. This time Howland was determined that the southerners would not corrupt Winterfell and the rightful Kings of the North, for they would be needed for when the darkness returned.

The sound of movement from outside drew him away from his thoughts. The sound of a scouting party returning. Howland stood up and walked to the doorway to his castle and waited for his son to dismount. When Torrhen did dismount he seemed tired but happy as well. "Father," his son began. "I have good news, very good news indeed."

"And what news is this son?" Howland asked.

His son smiled and said with much excitement. "The garrison in Moat Cailin are beginning to speak of mutiny against their commander Brandon Blacksnow. They are growing anxious to either fight in the north where the main action is or to turn their attention southwards towards us. That the man is not letting them do either is driving them mad. Our men within the garrison have begun whispering in Luthor Snow's ear about possibly overthrowing Blacksnow and taking charge of the garrison. With any luck that should happen before the year is out."

Howland was silent for a moment before he spoke. "That is good indeed son. I trust you made it so that Luthor does not suspect us in this whispering? After all the man is known to hate us, and he might very well write to whoever it is he actually serves about our own motives for doing this should he find out. Who was it you entrusted to the task?"

His son was silent for a moment and then said. "Theon and Tormund. I thought they would be the best for the sort of deception that would be required for this task to work properly."

Howland nodded and then asked. "You know what will need to be done with them once the task is done though yes? I do not want a repeat of what happened with that Locke girl you understand."

His son looked down and said. "Yes father I understand."

Howland nods and says. "Good now go and get freshened up, your betrothed shall be here soon enough." Once his son has left, Howland walks back into his chambers and finds his wife Berena sat on the bed waiting for him.

"What news did our son have for you?" his wife asked.

Once Howland was done recounting what Torrhen had told him he said softly. "Should this plan work, Moat Cailin will belong to Donnor and soon enough he will have enough strength to take Winterfell and crush Errold in one go."

His wife nodded and then asked. "But what of Brandon? My brother is a very proud man and will likely keep fighting even once Errold is dead. So long as he believes that he is the right man for the job he will keep fighting and should anything happen to Melantha he will fight until Donnor's blood stains the White River. He always was far too attracted to her for his own good."

Howland nodded and then said. "I have seen things, in my dreams. Errold will die, but this war will continue for much longer once he is dead. And the dragons will become involved both red and black."

"And who have you seen sitting in the throne of my father once this is all done?" His wife asked.

Howland looked at his wife and sighed. "A wolf of the blackest colour, that is all I know."