Winterfell

The council meeting had been going on for half the day now, Dareon had sat through countless hours of discussions of war tactics and whether or not it would be wise to march south again to try and reclaim the Riverlands. The problem about this strategy was that after the Red Wedding and the imprisonment of his uncle Edmure, all the riverlords had bent the knee to the Iron Throne and Dareon thought it unlikely that they would rise up against it again without their liege restored to Riverrun, which seemed nigh impossible with Emmon Frey's reign being backed by roughly 5000 Lannister men.

Just as he was about to call an end to the council so that he could go back to supervising the rebuilding, a hooded man stepped forward.

"Your Grace?"

Oh what it could it be now, can't I be left in peace for once? No obviously not, might as well listen to what this man has to say, what could he say that could change the way this meeting's been going?

"Yes what is it, and speak plainly and quickly!" Dareon replied more sharply than intended.

"I believe I have ample enough reason for you to want to and need to march south to the Riverlands again." The hooded man replied

When Dareon did not reply and simply kept looking at the man waiting for him to reply, he elaborated and said "I have it on good word that the Riverlords would be more than happy to bend the knee to you your grace."

Now Dareon was interested but was wary that he was being mocked, but before he could form a response Maege Mormont fired in a response "Oh and whose word would that be? Lannister Scum?"

This was met by lots of jeering and thumping of feet on stone, before Dareon's direwolf Artos yipped at the men to quiet.

The Hooded man seemed unperturbed by Artos or his yipping and merely continued "Yes, in fact House Blackwood as we speak is rallying the other riverlords to your cause, and is also planning to overthrow Emmon Frey from his seat in Riverrun."

Now Dareon was even more wary but also excited, caution however dictated his response was guarded "And how would you know this exactly my man?"

It was then that the hooded man lowered his hood to shocked gasps and whispers in the Great Hall.

Edmure Tully replied "Why nephew because I have been organising it all since after that thrice damned wedding at the Twins!"

Now Dareon was stunned, the last he'd heard his uncle had been bounded and chained and sent on his way to Casterly Rock with his wife after the siege of Riverrun had been lifted. Dareon had heard no word of his escape, and now had a thousand and one different questions running through his head the first of which his uncle answered without him even needing to ask.

"I had helped escaping; it seems not all westermen are without honour dear nephew. Addam Marbrand helped me escape after he heard the fate of the Westerlings at the hand of the Mad Queen; we rode as fast as we could from where we were to House Blackwood's seat and found them more than compliant to help us."

Whilst Dareon was relieved that his Uncle had escaped, he was wary about the fact that a Lannister bannerman had helped his uncle escape, he worried that this might be even more Lannister trickery. His uncle must have seen the doubt on his face for when he next spoke it was as an assurance

"Trust me your grace, Addam will not betray us, he swore himself to my service in front of the seven, even he has more honour to break such a holy vow."

Dareon was not entirely convinced but he let the matter drop for now, instead he turned his attention to the more pressing matter at hand "If you managed to escape, then did Jeyne manage to escape and if so where is she?"

At the mention of Jeyne, Dareon noticed that his uncle's eyes seemed to cloud over with what looked like sadness: "Yes she escaped with help from my uncle; they went to Greywater Watch where Jeyne died giving birth to a baby girl. Once we had reached the agreement I sent around 500 men at arms to help escort the babe with Lord and Lady Reed to Raventree, then made my way north and here I am. So if you are willing to do some more fighting then the Riverlands are yours and you will be able to better ensure the safety of your niece."

Upon hearing this Dareon felt a mixture of sadness and joy, he felt bitterly sad that Jeyne had died and that his niece would grow up never knowing her mother, but at the same time he felt joy at the fact that he could bring her back north to where she belonged. However, he felt a slight pang that in order to ensure his niece's safety he would have to go to war once again, and add even more blood to his hands.

Finally he asked the council at large their thoughts on the matter; they unanimously agreed that it was right for Dareon to march to war again if it meant ensuring his niece's safety and securing the future of the north.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Bellowed Mors Umber "Let's show these southron bastards how mighty the North truly is!"

This declaration was meant with echoing declarations and shouts of approval and many a shout of "THE KING IN THE NORTH!"

Dareon simply acknowledged all of the furore with a wave of his hand, inside though he felt a gnawing worry Rickon was meant to be coming back home in a moons turn he'd now have to stop that from happening Rickon would be happier and safer in White Harbour, he was also wondered if those men he'd sent to Bravos had found Arya yet, true it had only been a few days since he'd sent them but he still felt anxious not hearing from them.