Warning: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire, nor this Story.
This story deserves to be available for readers to read. This Story was removed, it deserved to be available, Original Author is Blackwolf2019 as i don't own this story or its work.
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Chapter 5: The White Wolf's Howl
Hope you all Enjoy! Feel free tae comment as always! This one was written a while back, so its up quicker than usual releases.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Barbrey Dustin
Winterfell was becoming like she remembered it. Before the wars. The walls were repaired, the keeps and towers rebuilt, even the ones that had fallen into disrepair before Robert's Rebellion. The Sept was no more as well. Roose Bolton had only done minimal repairs on first arrival, using the people of Wintertown and those who had taken shelter in Winterfell after the sack; and the Freys that had come North.
It was the Northern Lords that had brought it back to its glory, with Manderly, Whoresbane Umber, Cerwyn and Mazin at the fore. Her Father, Lord Ryswell had even helped. The Karstarks had also helped once they had betrayed Stannis and his southern army with not a single Northman but the Karstarks; not before he killed half of the Frey men, as Lord Manderly had said on his return with the bastard of Bolton.The one who stole my nephew,Lady Dustin thought bitterly. All the Lords present had brought supplies to rebuild Winterfell and it almost looked complete, almost the same too with the Direwolf statues fixed. Like the castle she once thought she might share with Brandon, barring the Bolton banners that adorned the walls.Another Northerner hurt by Southern Ambitions,Barbrey thought sadly at the thought of Brandon. The repaired Direwolves hadn't surprised her in truth. These Northmen were Stark men, even after their demise. Even the Northern Lords that had helped Bolton, albeit for the hostages he had, were not loyal to him. Lord Bolton didn't seem to mind though.
He always was an emotionless one.
The thought made her snort, as she walked towards the great hall of Winterfell, flayed men adorning the walls of Winterfell.Maybe he doesn't care, or he finds it fitting, a flayed man surrounded by Direwolves him and his son had flayed from existence.Every Northern Lord and Lady knew the truth of the sack, no matter what Bolton said of the Iron born. He had proclaimed it justice when they proclaimed that Theon Turn cloak had been executed by Stannis, although heloathednot doing it himself.Even though his bastard had kept him as a pet for so long.
The Bastard of Bolton had been in a mood despite his victory over Stannis. His Reek was dead and his bride had escaped, freed by Mance Rayder, according to the women who had accompanied him, tortured by the bastard in his so-called retribution. Mance was in a dungeon now for taking Bolton's bride, surrounded by the flayed skin of the women.A shame they had rescued a false Stark.Another thing every Northerner had known at the wedding before Stannis' arrival. The Arya Stark that didn't have her father's eyes.The eyes of the man who left my husband's bones in a Dornish Desert.The thought made her more bitter at the thought. Barbrey knew where the false stark would be taken. To the bastard of Ned Stark, Jon Snow.
Ramsay had sent a letter to him demanding her back. He'd threatened the Night's Watch according to one of the Maesters.Southern rats.Roose had kept it quiet, knowing how foolish it was to send such a letter. To threaten the Night's Watch was to threaten the wall, and the North valued the wall. Entering the great hall of Winterfell, she could see all the Lords present. Lords that were only in service to Bolton because of hostages held by the Freys. They were in a corner to themselves, what ones of House Frey were left. Barbrey could see the small smile on Lord Manderly's face at their dwindled sight. The hall was tense. It always was. Barbrey sat next to her father and the other Ryswell and Dustin men to wait for Lord Bolton to begin. She watched as Roose Bolton rose from his seat, flayed armour on. She could see those pale, almost milky eyes. They looked dead. His wife and bastard sat to his right and left. His bastard looked amused. The bastard's eyes weren't as pale as his father's but they were alive with a mad glint. She doubted he knew what was to be said. Her father didn't, she knew that much, and he was the closest Lord that could be said as loyal to the Boltons due to blood ties.
Barbrey watched as the flayed Lord waited for a moment before speaking, his voice soft and lifeless, "Months have passed since Stannis' defeat. The North is now secure from false Kings from the South. Winterfell, the heart of the North is rebuilt. Now, it is time to secure the North once and for all by driving out the Iron Born. House Bolton has removed them from Moat Cailin. We will do the same in Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's square and the Stony Shore. The men you have here will be a part of that, as will the other lords of the North that have yet to join us."
It was a simple speech. Lord Bolton was establishing that he was the only power in the North, the only one that could remove the Iron Born, the one that one day might call himself King in the North if he could remain unopposed.It might have been successful if he didn't have another problem.Dustin thought smugly.
"What of the Lady Arya, Lord Bolton? She hasn't been seen since the battle with Stannis?" Lord Cerwyn asked hesitantly.
Lady Dustin heard the grumbling begin. Lord Bolton may have been cunning and a terrifying creature, but the Northerners were never ones to cow at that. Especially when they knew Bolton's rule was tenuous. Asking about the false Stark girl was a good show of discontent.A poor start for Lord Roose,Barbrey thought.
The Leech Lord didn't raise his voice, he never did, "Lady Arya's disappearance will be dealt with. According to those who had taken her out of Winterfell, she was to be brought to the wall, where Stannis' former Queen and daughter reside."
"And her bastard brother, Jon Snow." The bastard of Bolton added disdainfully.
Barbrey wanted to laugh at how much contempt was in his voice when saying the word.He thinks because of a legitimisation and his "marriage" to the late Lady Hornwood makes him better than Ned Starks Bastard. He's a loon to think that. Even I think Ned Starks' bastard is better than him.
The Leech Lord gave his bastard a small look, then went on like nothing had happened, "Yes, to her bastard brother. The Lord Commander of the watch will not resist in returning her to her home. He knows his oaths to take no part in the affairs of the realm. "
"When will she be returned then?" Whoresbane asked, a lot less hesitant than Cerwyn and more impatient.
A true Umber.
"A contingent of Bolton men will be sent to collect her from her brother when the Iron Born are removed."
The grumbling started again in the hall. They probably didn't like the idea of Bolton men heading to the wall to meet the Lord Commander. He might not live for being Ned Stark's last son. Any son of Stark had power. The son that hadn't broken his oath to the watch, despite the offer that Stannis gave according to the Karstarks.Like his father for oaths, though if he'd broken them, the North would have flocked to him regardless.Better an oath breaker of the watch with Stark blood than a Bolton who would abandon guest rights.
"Then what is the plan to remove the squids from the North?" Lord Manderly asked.
Lord Bolton eyed the fat Lord of White Harbour, "There are few hideouts left for them, the biggest being Deepwood Motte, to the North West. We will take that, depriving their holdouts at Torrhen's square and the stony shore from any aid. They will quickly fall from that point."
"Who will be sent to do this task?" Lord Manderly asked again, keeping a positive voice. It was only when Freys started to speak he lost his poise somewhat. Barbrey could still see the small scar where a Frey had slashed not long before they battled against Stannis.
"Lord Manderly, you and Lord Umber will be sent. Once you've reclaimed Deepwood Motte you can assist Lady Dustin in taking back the Stony Shore when you send word of your victory. My own men, Ryswell, Dustin, Frey and Cerwyn will remain here until then. After we will take Torrhen's square."
Lord Bolton was being smart. Lady Dustin knew that. After half of the Freys died, by Stannis as Manderly"claimed," it was wiser to keep them away from each other. Sending off some of the larger houses was also smart in depleting their forces while keeping the Bolton army intact.Less troops to fight against Bolton rule, Barbrey noted.
Nobody seemed to disagree with Lord Bolton's strategy, they hated the squids almost as much as the Boltons. It seemed to be a done meeting, until one of the Maesters entered the room, holding a piece of parchment.
"My Lords and Ladies, we've received a missive from Deepwood Motte."
The Bolton bastard smirked, "Have the squids sent word of surrender?"
The Maester shook his head and spoke with a stutter, realising he had the bastard of Bolton's attention, "No My lord, Deepwood Motte has been taken from the Iron Born."
"By who?" One of the Northern Lords asked.
"Jon Snow, My Lord. He's the one who signed it."
The Northern Lords were silent.If they speak, they'll probably be cheering,Lady Dustin realised.
The bastard looked incredibly mad at the Maester. Lord Bolton remained passive, asking a simple question,
"What does it say?"
The Maester looked nervous, with all eyes on him. He cleared his throat.
"To the King Slayer, Lord Bolton and his bastard that sacked Winterfell, Ramsay Snow,
My Watch has ended on the wall as the North demanded it after your bastard's threats to the Night's Watch. Deepwood Motte has been taken from the squids. Their heads are on spikes, their entrails hung in the Godswood. I will do the same to you. I march for Winterfell to take it from you. If you have any wisdom, you would fight me in the old way by single combat. If not, you condemn your Bolton Army to slaughter by the full might of the North, by the full might of the First Men that remember there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. The North Remembers your crimes. The murder of King Robb Stark and his loyal lords and Ladies, the sacking of Winterfell and the impersonation of Arya Stark will be answered for with your blood. The Weirwood Tree of Winterfell will have it once me and my army are done bathing in it."
The Northern Lords were all listening intently to the words. Lady Dustin listened as well whilst watching in amusement as the Bolton Bastard got angrier at the words; clearly lacking the ability to control a response to being called a bastard. The moment that the Maester rat had said Jon Snow had taken the Motte, she knew he would be coming to Winterfell. As she listened, she noticed something about the words, they were odd. They spoke like a Stark with the Wolfblood in droves.No son of Ned Stark would write with such anger as this. No son of Ned Stark would revel as much in the blood, or sacrificing to the Old Gods in that fashion. He speaks with the Wolfblood.Lady Dustin hadn't heard a Stark to speak in that way for a long time. Not since Brandon.The last wolf in my eyes
Her attention was brought back to the Maester as he finished,"Winter is Coming Lord Bolton, Lord Snow. And with it comes the wolves.
Jon Snow, Son of Brandon Stark"
Barbrey had turned her attention to the Maester completely at that point.Son of Brandon? The bastard's lost his mind.Then it hit her. Of course, he was Brandon's. The honourable Ned Stark would never have sired a bastard. Brandon would though. Lady Dustin knew that much, remembering the man who had taken her maidenhead, a small smile tugging at her lips. It made sense that he was. It even made sense that Ned Stark claimed him as his own.A bastard of Brandon's would have been even more terrifying to the Tully Trout. Bastard of the first-born heir of Rickard.Ned Stark must have told him on his way to the wall, when it wouldn't matter that he was Brandon's son. The thought made her angry.
"You mean the son of Ned Stark?" Her father asked, clearly speaking with interest.
"It says Brandon Stark my Lord." The Maester said slowly
The Northern Lords were muttering amongst themselves. She swore that she could hear them coming to the same conclusion as Barbrey. They knew what Jon Snow had said was true. His parentage wasn't the only thing. One of the Northerners nearby uttered a whisper. "The North Remembers."The Bolton's hold on the North was getting weaker with one letter.
One of the Frey Lords present gave a shout, "What does it matter who fathered the bastard?! He's a traitor to the watch, an oath breaker and the blood of traitors to the Crown! He needs to be dealt with!"
Thewords were foolish ones to say for a Frey, she could here Whoresbane Umber smash his tankard on the table and growled. The other Lords present looked ready to slaughter the Freys. Lord Manderly was looking at Lord Bolton though.
"Now that DeepwoodMottehas been taken, what are our plans now?"
Lady Dustin could almost here the smugness that Manderly was hiding behind the fat.
Lord Bolton met the man with an empty stare, "The Oath Breaker is coming to Winterfell. Our army will crush his and he'll be executed for abandoning the wall. I'm sure all of you Lords of the North know what to do with a man who deserts the Night's Watch. The same will be done to those Lords which have made whatever army he claims to have."
The Northern Lords nodded.A mummer's farce if I've ever saw one,Lady Dustin knew.
The Leech Lord spoke one last time, "That will be all my Lords, we will convene again to discuss the upcoming battle."
The Lords all began to leave the great hall, Lady Barbrey walking with her father. The tension that had been in the hall was still there. It didn't matter what hostages the Freys had, it didn't matter that Jon Snow had left the watch. The Northerners were going to fight for Jon Snow. They were going to fight for a son of House Stark.And I will fight for Brandon's only son.That was a certainty for Lady Dustin.He can avenge my Domeric.
Hope you all enjoyed, felt like it was a good look into what's happened at Winterfell. Theon is dead btw,I went wae the whole sacrifice theory. Stannis does it before the battle, hoping Theon's head on a spike might turn the Northerners on the Bolton side. Theon's life paid for Jon's resurrection in this as a sacrifice to the old Gods. As tae why Jon said son of Brandon is twofold, reminds them of Ned Stark's character and a way of honouring Brandon fae giving him peace after he got stabbed tae death. And you can see the North's loyalties quite plainly in this as well. Oh and the entrails on the Godswood happens, will be mentioned in one of the next chapters, no embellishment in the letter Jon sends