Well, in the previous chapter, Orryn took Winterfell with Mance's help.
The size of Stannis and Orryn's army is much larger now, with the addition of the Mountain Clans and Skaagos' men, something close to 25,000. The lords of the north will bring little more to the table, but the region is "stabilized".
With such a difference from the Boltons, I couldn't wage a large-scale, definitive battle, nor could I lay siege to Winterfell.
It was a surprise attack, fast and furious, and I think it worked well. As for Roose and Ramsay... they're just going to die.
I won't give them power, they won't be a problem in the future, I think Stannis would handle it very well. Roose will be executed, but as for Ramsay's painful punishment... let's just say it was Orryn whispering in his father's ear.
Asha
I opened my eyes and groaned in frustration as the light hit my face. I sat up in bed and quickly regretted it as the icy wind hit my bare skin, my nipples instantly hardening and I covered myself with the sheets.
Orryn was at the window, looking out, barefoot and shirtless, wearing only his pants.
"You know you're going to catch a cold if you keep this up, don't you?" I grumbled, throwing myself onto the bed.
"I didn't want to wake you..." He said in a low voice and I snorted,
"Yes, you did."
"Yeah, I wish. You snore, I think it's because of your long nose." He replied before closing the window and climbing back into bed next to me.
"Is your father coming soon? Should I run out of his room so he won't see me?
"My father will arrive today, and with him all the lords of the north. The dungeons are full, and frankly, our guests there can hold out for a few days." Orryn said before realizing something. "And the room is actually yours...".
"As soon as your father arrives, the trials will begin." I said and felt a pang in my heart.
"Your brother Asha... Theon Greyjoy will die for what he did, no house in the North will stop demanding it."
"Life chews you up, takes what's tastiest and spits you out, it's happened to Theon over and over again. He's already broken, Orryn, there's no point in killing him." I insisted and saw Orryn's face twitch slightly because of the scar. It always happens when he's in deep thought, when he's nervous.
"There's no other way... he has to die, the lords of the north have to watch his head roll through the Godswood of Winterfell. We've already tested our luck by keeping Mance Ryder alive."
"So you want to kill him anyway?" I said with a hint of anger, and Orryn kept her stormy blue eyes on mine.
"Do you trust me, Asha?"
"No."
"I trust you even less, but I know your brother isn't as broken as you think, I've talked to him, I know he can pay for his crimes in another way...".
"And you still want to kill him."
"Trust me, Asha." He said with a neutral face and got out of bed, ready to get dressed and get on with his day.
"Don't you want to... you know... one more time?" I offered and he nodded in disagreement.
"This ends here Asha, it was good while it lasted." The damn bastard said with a smile and I snorted.
I tossed and turned a few times in bed, sleep didn't come and I decided to get up.
Winterfell was being cleaned incessantly by the servants, as if they were trying to wash away the Bolton rot that had stained these halls.
I sat down at the table to eat my breakfast and did what I was supposed to do, following Alyssane wherever she went. The woman was tough, but easy to like, and we got along well. She was the one who told me the gossip during the day, and Orryn told me a few things in the evenings as well, so I kept up with what was going on.
That afternoon, a week after the battle at Winterfell, King Stannis Baratheon arrived.
Everyone knelt before him, a tall man with a hard square face, somewhat sunken cheeks and a bald head.
The less said about their queen, the better. Orryn was lucky to look the way he did with parents like those two, but his hair... that would certainly disappear in a few years.
Sitting on the wooden throne of the Ancient Kings of Winter, King Stannis looked at everyone with his hard blue eyes, identical to Orryn's.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce that the North is free from the clutches of traitors." He spoke simply: "The lords I welcome here are loyal to House Stark. And so I am here to condemn those who should be condemned and to congratulate those who should be congratulated."
The trial was a farce, I knew that much. Orryn and the lords of the north who had arrived earlier negotiated the terms, the king made the adjustments he thought necessary, and it was all done behind closed doors. Were some happier than others? Yes. I just didn't know who did better or worse.
The doors opened, men in Stark uniforms appeared, and in their midst, a small red-haired boy riding a direwolf. "I give you Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Protector of the North". The herald shouted, and I saw solemnity and joy on many faces. Eddard Stark's line was very dear to his bannermen.
"Lord Rickon, step forward to take your oath". The king commanded, and the boy did as he must have rehearsed, but not without showing his discomfort with his fancy clothes, looking like a little wild devil who wanted to get loose and run around the court with his wolf.
Once sworn in, Rickon returned to his wolf and his older sister. Orryn's sister was also there, along with other noble girls from various northern houses, seeking her 'friendship'.
"Much as I recognize Lord Rickon as Lord Protector of the North, I fear he is too young for such a role. A regency must be made in the best interests of the North as a whole." The king pondered his words for a moment. "I offer such a position to Lord Wyman Manderly, loyal Stark vassal and a man of proven honor... does anyone object?".
No one spoke, and the king nodded.
"I am honored, Your Grace, and will do my best to help rebuild the North. My son Ser Wendel took the Dread Fort without much resistance, all the wealth accumulated by House Bolton will be transferred to House Stark, as a first payment of course."
"What House Bolton has done is indeed a tragedy, so I offer the young lord a position at my court as squire to Prince Orryn. The quality of the training he will receive will be unquestionable, and I intend for him to return to his duties when he is of an appropriate age."
"With all due respect, Your Grace. Making Lord Rickon a squire would force him to embrace the faith of the Seven." Lady Alyssane volunteered, receiving a few nods of agreement.
"The Faith of the Seven does not require conversion for squires, only for sworn knights, Lady Mormont, I believe Lord Rickon can return from his duties without becoming a knight if he wishes." Lord Manderly replied, once again this was all a farce.
"Back to the Boltons... Lady Walda Bolton, come forward." The King's voice was even harder, and the fat young woman with the blonde hair came forward, she tried her best not to cry, I doubted she would succeed.
"Your Grace." She bowed awkwardly.
"I understand you are pregnant with a possible heir to House Bolton?"
"Yes, Your Grace." She replied quickly, looking down at the floor.
"Know that you are mistaken. No heir shall grow in your womb, for I declare the House of Bolton extinct this day. Lord Roose Bolton will be executed at dawn in the Godswood for his heinous crimes. His bastard, another vile creature, though working at his father's behest, is also guilty and will be condemned to the Wall."
My eyes widened at this and there were many sighs. Ramsay's punishment was too lenient. But no one questioned the king when Roose Bolton's twisted bastard was dragged from the cells there.
"Take him to the Wall at once. I want a quick trip, no stops, and Ramsey, a criminal should not ride a horse." The king said strangely. "It's well known that he liked to skin his victims, isn't it Snow? Even though you know it's a crime?"
The bastard just grumbled, looked at the king angrily, but said nothing. "How is he to be brought to Your Grace's Wall?". Lord Mardely replied with a hint of cruelty in his voice.
"Tie the end of a rope to your hands, the other end to the horse's bridle. It will follow the same rhythm as the march on foot, without pausing."
"What if he falls?" An old man from the mountain clans asked.
"If he falls to the ground... then he has fallen, and the march will continue. If the gods will, Ramsay Bolton will arrive in time to take his vows at the Wall."
Cruel. I thought to myself, even if he stays alive for a while, the guards will make him fall, they will surely deliver a corpse with the front of the body skinned across the road.
"As for you, Lady Bolton, if the child you carry is a girl, she will be betrothed to a future member of House Stark. If it is a boy, he will be sent to the Wall at an appropriate age to try to wash away his father's mistakes." That was the king's verdict and tears streamed down Walda's chubby cheeks, I can't tell if they were from happiness or sadness.
"As for the lands of Dread Fort, they will be given to House Stark for one generation. After that, it will be Lord Rickon's duty to give the lands to his son or a close relative for the creation of a Stark cadet branch."
"We'll take care of all that, Your Grace, I think the matter of Dread Fort is settled. All that remains is the trial of the other traitorous lords." Lord Manderly urged, and the two surviving Ryswells were dragged away.
Orryn had made sure that the time in the dungeons had done neither of them any good.
"Lord Rodrick Ryswell, you are guilty of aiding the Bolton treason, as well as manipulating your daughter, Lady Barbrey Dustin, to your side. Your crimes are punishable by death." The mood cooled and I could see old Riswell casting evil glances at his daughter.
"But... my son Orryn has brought some ideas." The king spoke and Orryn stepped forward to speak to all the northern lords.
"During my stay in the lands of the Glovers, I was able to see a shortcoming of the North, the lack of an adequate fleet in the Western Sea. During the battle against the Ironborn, we managed to capture a good number of Longships, not enough to patrol the entire coast, but enough to get started. These Longships were given to a house with a certain naval 'tradition' and unquestioning loyalty to the Starks, House Mormont".
"As agreed, House Glover will cede the territory of Sea Dragon Point to House Mormont. House Mormont will be given the task of building a port on the new lands and patrolling the west coast of the north." Alyssane nodded gravely at the king's words.
"As a reward for their cooperation, the Glovers will receive an equal amount of territory from the northern territory of the Ryswells." Orryn added.
"Lord Rodrick Ryswell is condemned to the Wall and the line of succession passes to the third son, now Lord Roose Ryswell."
Acceptance was the only thing that flashed across the old lord's face, anger flashed across the face of his last son, but he said nothing. This was one of those lords who would always be viewed with suspicion by the others northmans.
"I believe that Lady Dustin, though influenced by her father, has also committed crimes for the North." The old and fat Lord Manderly suggested once again, he was the most vocal of all the Lords, he already acted as Regent here.
"That is a fact. Lady Dustin, on the other hand, surrendered during the attack and cooperated as best she could. House Tallhart and House Cerwyn will get parts of the northern Dustin lands. I think that's punishment enough for their mistakes". Orryn replied, and his father spoke next.
"It is not a Lady's job to rule all the Dustin lands alone, perhaps that loneliness has made it easier for your father's dirty words to germinate in your heart. To keep you safe in these dark days, Lady Dustin, I give you the hand of my man, Ser Richard Horpe. He is a loyal knight and I believe he will serve you well in easing your responsibilities".
"As for the succession, the Dustin line goes to a lower branch of the cousins of the late Willam Dustin, that's the law. Now, any children born of Lady Dustin's remarriage, while not entitled to the lands, will certainly have a place at the Stark court or even in the capital." Lord Manderly added, and Lady Dustin just nodded in defeat.
Ser Richard stared at her, his eyes dark, his face battle scarred. The 'gift' Lady Barbrey Dustin had received was perhaps worse than the Wall. 'Maybe she won't survive him to bear a child', I thought amusedly.
The meeting continued. House Hornwood was without leadership, the lower branches were far from the last Lord, and the debate about Lord Halys' bastard was extensive.
Larence Snow was then legitimized, much to the support of the Glovers, and would now become Larence Hornwood. A marriage would soon be arranged for him to wash away his bastardy.
Alyssane was also recognized as Lady of Bear Island after the death of her mother and sister. Her children were legitimized by the king, and she did not refuse to marry Ser Rolland Storm. In fact, the great man tried not to smile like a little boy.
And then, just when I thought I had gotten away with everything that had happened, I was finally called.
I was brought before the king and accusations began to fly from all sides.
"Asha Greyjoy, your crimes are great, but like Lady Dustin, you were influenced by your father and uncles." The king spoke harshly.
"I believe, Your Grace, that Lady Glover will vouch for my conduct during the time she was my prisoner." I offered, and the woman gave me a cold look.
"I admit that my children and I were not molested, I simply cannot say the same for those who lived under our roof." She spoke with obvious disgust and leaned on her husband's arm.
Robett Glover clenched his teeth and, perhaps in one of the few uncombined outbursts during this trial, accused me. "That bitch is still with my children!".
"I sent one of my men to negotiate with my uncle Rodrick Harlaw! Your mistress was also imprisoned in the Ten Towers and will have nothing to say about the treatment she received!"
"And will your uncle, The Reader, cooperate with us?". The king asked.
"Of course he will! My uncle, like my grandfather before him, has long sought to be closer to yours here in the Green Lands! I will have your children returned, and in time, when I have fulfilled my birthright, there will be a closer approach to the Iron Throne, as it always should have been!".
"You will continue to be my prisoner, you will be treated as a noblewoman of your stature should be, but don't think my patience will last forever, I want something from your uncle quickly." The king dismissed me and it was... easy for me. I still got dirty looks from everyone there, but soon I was in their good graces, that's how it always was with me.
"If one Greyjoy is to be held prisoner, we have another with worse crimes." The king was reminded and Theon, my brother, was dragged away.
He looked old, much older than he should. His hair was white, some of his fingers were missing, and his skin was sagging.
"To you, Theon Greyjoy, for the crimes you have committed against the Stark family and the North as a whole... only fire can judge. May the blood of the Kings of the Iron Islands be strong and may the Lord of Light have mercy on your soul."
I shuddered, burning at the stake was a terrible death, especially for someone who had suffered as much as Theon. 'Come on Orryn! You said you had something on your mind, do it!'. I waited, but the prince didn't move a muscle, he seemed impassive.
Many of the lords in the hall didn't like what they heard, but said nothing. In fact, the only ones who seemed happy were those closest to the queen and her mad sorceress.
I looked at the prince, who looked back at me, but remained as impassive as before. Obviously I was right, I couldn't trust Orryn, and at this point I couldn't trust anyone else.