The Winter King
Author Notes:
Chapter 09: Den of Wolves
The bannermen of House Lannister did not like riding in the middle of camp. Especially when that camp was of House Stark. The banners of House Stark were all around them and the only reason why they weren't attack was that they came under a parlay.
Then they saw him, the Winter King. His hood was up but his black clothing gave him away immediately.
"Messengers from Lord Tywin I presume." The Winter King said as he walks forward.
"Not exactly." The Lieutenant said as he grabs the scroll and hands it to the Winter King. Instead, a bannermen grabs its and hands it to him.
"The Seal of the Starks. Must be from Lady Sansa." The Winter King said as he unrolls the scroll and reads it.
"I see, Lady Sansa has ordered me to stand down and submit myself for treason against House Stark." The Winter King said slowly.
"We are to escort you to King's Landing. Lady Sansa will be merciful." The Lieutenant said.
"I am obligated to obey Lady Sansa. She is the only surviving Stark known." The Winter King said.
"We leave at once my Lord." The Lieutenant said.
The Winter King suddenly grabs a spear and thrusts it into the Lieutenant.
"Leave one alive." He orders as his archers killed the party.
The last Lannister pulls out his sword and looks wary.
"Does Tywin Lannister honestly believe he could fool me?" The Winter King said as he leers down upon the last remaining Lannister troop. "I know he told Sansa Stark to write that letter. Sansa Stark is a political prisoner, which means I'm under no obligations to listen to hear. He wants peace, release Sansa Stark then we'll talk about peace. Until such time, the war will not be over."
The Lannister Bannermen was so scared all he could do was nod his head. He was put back on his horse and rode out. No one stops him, but he was jeered out.
"Get ready to return to the North, we have Bolton's to hunt." Harry orders.
Harry knew Roose Bolton was trying to reach the Dreadfort. There he would be safe from any attack. However, he would be force to smuggle himself onto his own lands as Ironborn were still loose in the North and hold many castles and keep. That meant it wasn't just the Bolton's that Harry was going to be fighting, it would be Ironborn. Harry was confident that Ser Brynden Tully would able to lead the assault in the Riverlands. Just to be safe, he was leaving a garrison of troops to attack the Frey's and support the Tully's. the Lannister's, once they heard the Stark's were not dead he was sure they would march on him. The only question was how to set the trap.
Harry said nothing as the men and women clean up camp and were preparing to match up north.
"Your grace," A scout came in as he reported.
"What do you have to report?" Harry asks.
"Some Bolton's have been sighted. Not a day's ride from here."
"Do they know of our position?" Harry asks.
"Not likely your grace."
"Commander Brise, gather what men you can and prepare to intercept these Bolton's."
"At once." She said.
The Bolton's were singing a tone as they march through the forest. They were clearly in high spirits.
Harry kept his hood up and walks forward with his men behind him.
"Step aside. You're in the presence of the Bolton forces, in the name of Lord Roose Bolton, Warden of the North, I demand you and your followers step aside." The Commander orders.
"Commander, their banners." A bannermen said as he looks at them nervously.
The Commander Looks at their banner carefully then his face fell.
"House Bolton, the house of traitors. I trust you don't honestly believe you can rule the North as long as House Stark still breathes." Harry said, his voice sounded high and cold.
"Swords." The Commander called out. The Bolton's all drew their swords.
"Let's have some fun," Harry said as he unsheathes his new Valyrian Steel sword.
Harry charged forward with his men attacking as well.
Harry pushes the sword out of his path and cuts down the first Bolton before cutting down the second. The Bolton's try to put up a fight, but Harry cut them down without trouble.
The moment the Bolton's realized they were defeated they began to run.
"Let them go," Harry called out as his men began to chase them.
They stop as the Bolton's Bannermen fled. The survivors fleeing towards the Dreadfort; no doubt to tell Lord Bolton of the resurrection of the Stark's.
It wasn't long before reports filled the seven kingdoms of the return of the Northern Army. Roose Bolton's, fearing his position sent a cry for help to Tywin Lannister.
As the cry of help happen, The Northern Army attack Bolton's stronghold and killed countless soldiers. Even the Ironborn were attacked by the Northern Army. The Ironborn, at first was holding true and strong, but when supplies were cut off, many fled back to their ships. Only when they were in route to them, did the Northern Army attack them and cut them into pieces.
The Karstarks, quickly join House Bolton but were starting to regret it. They fled to Winterfell after Karhold was attacked and burn to the ground.
This caused many houses to openly defy the Bolton's.
The Bolton's did not take this well. However, there was nothing to they could do as the Winter King was on their doorsteps.
Today King Joffrey was at his Small Council meeting.
"It has been a month since the arrival of the Winter King, and no one has anything on him? Where did this army come from?" Tywin Lannister shouted.
"We don't know. My little birds have reported a place they've been going too. A large northern settlement. The Winter King is known to spend most of his time there. It could be, his birthplace." Varys said slowly.
"We'll make preparations immediately." Tywin Lannister said.
"Joffrey should go with you." Tyrion Lannister said.
"He will not." Cersei snaps.
"I am the King!" Joffrey shouted.
"Then act like one." Tyrion Lannister shouted. "The men's morale and spirit are weak. They will not follow a King who hides. You need to lead." Tyrion Lannister shouted.
"He is not leaving the capital," Cersei said.
"He is and will." Tywin Lannister said.
"No," Cersei said in barely a whisper.
"Do not forget, men follow King's into battle. Not hide them in their mother's arms. Joffrey needs to be seen leading this expedition." Tywin Lannister said.
"I will not," Joffrey said as he looks at his grandfather with a menacing look.
"Do you know what the people call you? What your own soldiers say about you?" Tyrion Lannister said. "The King Who Fears All. They believe you a coward." Tyrion said. "If you don't do this, you'll have revolts and rebellions for another twenty years. You need to be seen doing or else no one will follow you anymore!"
"I am not a coward," Joffrey said in an angry tone of voice. "I am the King!"
"Then you will lead us. Lead us to victory. We'll call all your Vassals to crush the Winter King once and all." Tywin Lannister said ending the matter.
Harry looks at the cave in front of him. The men had reported strange sounds coming from the cave so he was curious.
Harry walks forward and enters the cave. His men did not want him to go alone, but he chose to go.
It was dark and very hard to see.
Harry said nothing as he walks forward through the tunnel.
He paused as he stops and looks at a small hole in the ceiling. The moon was shining. Harry looks around and could see movement in the shadow.
Harry grabs his sword before he saw more movement. Soon he saw hundreds of shapes getting up. He looks to his side and sees a wolf staring right at him.
It was a Direwolf.
Harry looks around and could see the moon was shining through the hole revealing hundreds of Direwolves.
Harry sets his blade down and walks forward. He looks around and could see hundreds of Direwolves looking at him.
Bandit came up behind and rubs his head against Harry's hand. Harry scratches his ears. Then Bandit walks forward and looks at all the Direwolves.
Bandit howls, his howl echoing in the cavern. The rest of the Direwolves all howl with him.
Harry said nothing as he steps forward to let the moonlight bathe him.
He remembers how the Stark's bonded with their Direwolves.
Now he was sure the Direwolves all bonded with him.
Harry walks out the cave with the Direwolves following him.
His men said nothing as they watch the Direwolves come out.
"Amazing, you are their master?" Commander Tries said in amazement.
"Seems that way," Harry said calmly.
"We were right, you are a King, we can follow." Commander Brise said.
The Direwolves let out a howl that echoed through the night.
House Stark, was stronger than ever.
Roose Bolton had to flee the Dreadfort. The Northern Kingdom laid siege to it. He tried to negotiate with the Stark Battle Commander, he sent three messengers to them. Only they messenger's were killed immediately their severed head were brought back before him.
Then came the attack, it was done with no mercy. No, he had to flee his own home.
He still had Winterfell, but losing the Dreadfort was a severe blow. It made his position look weak.
Today he was meeting with his son. More like his bastard.
"The Moat Cailin is your father," Ramsay said as he holds up the banner.
"Walk with me." Roose Bolton said as he leads Ramsay up the hill. "Tell me, what do you see."
"Nothing."
"Look again." Roose Bolton said.
"Fields?"
"The North." Roose Bolton said calmly. "The North is the largest of the seven kingdoms, and I am it's Warden. You have heard the news I trust."
"The Starks are dead."
"Not all of them, and someone is keeping the Stark banner alive. While there are houses in the North that refuse to bow to my new rule, the arrival of the Winter King has made things complicated. He seeks to reform the Northern Kingdom. All hopes of negotiating have failed. Both the Lannister's and my own men have been killed for coming near them. However hope is upon us, soon we will kill the Winter King and peace will be restored."
"We don't need the other houses, father," Ramsay said slowly.
"Yes, we do. We cannot stand strong if the other houses see us as weak. The Winter King is adding fuel to the fire by opposing my rule. We're lock in a civil war and one that doesn't seem to end. However, Tywin Lannister has called upon us and our bannermen to join him in an expedition to eliminate the Winter King. We need to do this, or the other Houses of the North will not accept my rule." Roose Bolton said coldly. Ramsay said nothing as he took this in. "Now tell me, what is your name?"
"Ramsay Snow."
"Not anymore, from this day forward and till your last you are Ramsay Bolton, my son." Roose Bolton said handing Ramsay the official legitimization paper.
"You honor me, father. I swear I will uphold your name, your tradition. I'll be worthy of you father, I swear it." Ramsay said as he bends his knee.
"The North is not won yet. The last pinnacle for the North is the Winter King, who is flying the Stark's banner. If we do not stop the Winter King, it will be our heads on a pike." Roose Bolton declared.
South near the Neck, Lannister's, Tyrell's and members of the Kingsguard were riding north. It was the largest army the Seven Kingdoms has ever seen. More than a hundred thousand men were marching to the North.