12th Month of 299 A.C. Castle Black
King Stannis I Baratheon
They all thought he was done for, beaten, despoiled, destroyed, that was what the Lannisters were saying about him. The Blackwater had been a failure, a complete and utter failure, and yet there was hope yet. He was not done for just yet, there would be tension between the Lannisters and the Tyrells, and Stannis knew he need only wait for that to manifest itself before he could strike once more. First he needed men and that was why he was sailing for the north, determined to ensure some region supported him.
Looking at the boy who he intended to use to bring the north to him, Stannis marvelled at just how much Stark's bastard was truly like him. "The Night's Watch does not suit you Snow. A waste here, where they accuse of one crime and then another. Tell me what did you do beyond the wall?"
The bastard's expression is pained then but his answer is honest enough. "I worked with the enemy and fought alongside them as well. I learned of their plans and their motives. I know they are not the true foe, no that foe is more dangerous and incomprehensible."
"So they do exist then do they?" Stannis asks intrigued. "They are not the mere ramblings of a mad woman. Tell me how was it that you managed to stop Mance Rayder from attacking, or rather yet, why has he not yet attacked if indeed he was supposed to be attacking now?"
"I do not know Your Grace. All I know is that he said he would come, and he is not a man to break his word lightly. But that is not why you have asked me here is it Your Grace?" the bastard responds.
Stannis nods. "Indeed it is not, I have summoned you here to ask you something. The north is in chaos, we both know that. Bolton's bastard fights one enemy, and the Karstarks are fighting another enemy. There are Ironborn in Deepwood Motte and in various other places in the north, there is no strength, no solidarity within the north anymore. Not since your brother died. He might well have been a traitor, but he kept this realm together. Now there are no more Starks in the north, and it is dying. I cannot afford that to happen, not if I want my throne. And so I need a Stark."
"There Starks within Barrowton and White Harbour Your Grace. They would come to fight for you, especially with Winterfell there for the taking." the bastard responds.
"Pah. Do not play me for a fool Snow, we both know that no Northman would follow such Starks, they are too low down the fighting order to matter." Stannis responds.
"Then I do not know where you will find your Stark, Your Grace. My brothers are all dead, my sisters are either hostages or missing. There is nothing left for you here. Why did you come here at all?" the bastard asks forlornly
Stannis grits his teeth and responds. "Do not speak such nonsense, there is a Stark left, he might not be a trueborn Stark but he is still a son of Eddard Stark and he sits before me."
It takes a moment for what he has said to be digested, and then the bastard responds. "You do not mean me Your Grace? Surely not. I have sworn a vow to the Night's Watch. I will take no land and no title, no wife and sire no children. I will not abandon the Watch."
"You cannot truly wish to remain here Snow." Stannis responds incredulously. "It is clear the Watch does not want you here, and whatever oaths you made were done when there was no more choice for you. Surely you would not want the north and Winterfell to remain in chaos as it is now? Surely you want to avenge the deaths of your father and brothers?"
"What I want is immaterial. I swore a vow." the bastard responds.
"And I swore a vow to Aerys Targaryen, and yet I continued fighting for my brother during the rebellion." Stannis snaps back, his patience beginning to wane.
"That is different, you were not sworn to the Night's Watch, I am." the bastard responds. "Besides, even if I do agree, the lords would never respect me. I would be seen as a deserter from the Night's Watch, and that, that is something not everyone would respect or like."
"So you do not wish to avenge the wrongs that were done to your family? You do not want to gain some measure of right from the wrongs the Lannisters have done to you?" Stannis asks probing.
The bastard looks at him with such loathing, Stannis feels like smacking him. "Winterfell is Sansa's, it is my sister's right with our brothers dead."
"Pah, so you want a Lannister in Winterfell? Whatever happened to having some steel? Your father would never have allowed what is going on in the north to happen." Stannis says bitingly.
"You did not know my father. He is dead now, what he would have done is immaterial." the bastard replies, though Stannis can tell he is lying.
"Very well, on your head be it. Do not let it be said that I did not try." Stannis responds. With that he dismisses the bastard and is left alone to sit and brood. After a few moments Melisandre walks in. "He did not accept the offer, unlike what you predicted he would do."
"He needs some time to think over what you have offered him Your Grace. I am sure with enough time he shall say yes." Melisandre replies.
"And if he does not? What then?" Stannis asks. "Already, Manderly has given me some excuse as to why he cannot declare for me, the Karstarks have declared for me but I suspect they want something more from this. If he does not accept the offer, I am finished."
"Have faith that the Lord of Light will give you what you want, for you are his chosen one." The red woman replies coming closer toward him.
White Harbour
Lord Wyman Manderly
Winter, it was coming as certain as his own death was. Wyman knew that, had always known that. He had always known that what he and Rickard had done that long ago day would come back to haunt them, and it had. The Red Wedding so many dead, so many lost, and why, because Rickard's son and grandson had been too honourable to realise when to step closer toward the line. It was a shame really, but there was hope yet, there was always hope, Rickard's luck had not yet run out, and Wyman was determined to take full advantage of that.
"Tell me again how much does the boy know?" Wyman asks.
The man he is speaking to, Robett Glover takes a moment to compose himself and then says. "He knows that the boys separated after leaving Winterfell, and that Bolton's bastard was to blame for what happened. He also knows that after leaving Winterfell, the little one and the wildling woman went east, Far East, to where there are remenants of their people."
Wyman nods. "And how certain are you Robett that this is exactly what happened?"
"The men I sent out to look into what the boy has given us, found some proof that there had been a hut set up, and they found the remenants of a fire. The boy and the woman had most certainly been there sometime recently." Robett responds.
"Why would they not have come to White Harbour?" Wyman wonders, and then answers his own question. "Of course, the woman would not know what sort of welcome to expect, and I suppose the boy's brother would not be thinking of such things. How far do the trails suggest they went?"
"As far as the Bone Hills, where the savages dwell my lord. That is what the men I sent out told me." Robett responds.
"Good. That means they would not have gone far. Of course we shall need to tread carefully now, what with Bolton's bastard trailing around the area like a mad man, and the Karstarks playing some game of their own. And now with Stannis Baratheon here, the north will become a token of focus of Tywin Lannister." Wyman says.
"Do you think it might be wise to send a rider southward? To let them know?" Robett asks.
"I believe your brother would have already done that Robett," Wyman says. "Of course one does have to wonder where the boy's older brother went with Lord Howland's children. Why did he not come here himself? There are too many things going on here that are not clear."
"There is most definitely something strange about what happened before Winterfell was sacked. Theon Greyjoy doing what he did, whilst treason makes sense, the boy never had much sense. But the Reed children, I do not know, there is something else going on there, and I am not sure what it is." Robett responds.
"You think they are playing some game? I do not think so, I do not think that Howland would willingly send his children off to Winterfell with some ulterior motive." Wyman responds. He is not his father at the very least, Jonos Reed most certainly did that with Howland.
"But we know hardly anything about Howland, my lord. The man did not leave Greywater Watch after the rebellion for anything. I find that passing odd." Robett responds.
"And I am sure the people of White Harbour find it odd that I have allowed you some measure of privacy despite being a condemned man." Wyman responds.
"And what will you do when Davos Seaworth comes? You might not have any Freys to worry about, but Tywin Lannister will most certainly hear about what happens here." Robett responds.
Wyman looks at the man then and says. "My maester shall not be long for this world. Tywin Lannister has promised the return of my son, and I shall ensure that he is home before Maester Theomore is dead. I will not allow him to remain here skulking like some sort of informant, in what is a true Northman's court."
"Surely you will need to remove him before you send someone out to look for the boy? After all, the moment those riders leaver, people will begin speaking. The mere fact that the Freys did not arrive here at White Harbour is causing some concern." Robett responds.
"And we have Black Walder Frey to thank for their nonappearance. I do think that is something of a boon. Having any Frey here would have been an insult to King Robb, without the permission from the south of course." Wyman says.
"Do you think Tywin Lannister knows?" Robett asks.
"He must know, the man did not achieve what he has without suspecting something or the other. Regardless he has not the evidence to form an accusation on." Wyman responds. "And of course the Karstarks will be looking toward him, desperate to try and improve their standing."
"What will Arnolf Karstark do when he realises just how much trouble he truly is in?" Robett asks.
"Panic, no doubt." Wyman responds. "That is what he is good at. This whole ploy of his, is a sign that he is panicking, he will not make a move until it is too late, and when he does, it shall come crashing down around him. The Karstarks have ever been fated to be second to the Starks."
"Do you truly believe that is what he was hoping to achieve?" Robett asks.
"Without a shadow of a doubt. Karstark is worse than his nephew, at least his nephew knew somewhat how to hide his ambition. Arnolf shows his emotions on his face, and his actions speak louder than his words. His attempt to seize whatever girl it was that was sent here to be the bastard's bride shows he wants Winterfell. And now that that plan has failed, he will look for other ways." Wyman responds.
"What will you do?" Robett asks.
"I shall bring the Starks back, and end this farce once and for all." Wyman responds.