Stranded

Chapter 17

Winterfell

One month later…

Ned looked out the Winterfell battlements one last time. It would be a long time before he saw the north again and he wanted to savor every minute of it. He shook his head and thought back to one month ago. Gregor Clegane had killed Domeric Bolton causing untold chaos. If Clegane had out right murdered Domeric things would be different but, he didn't. He killed him in the arena where one of the options of winning was death. He had followed the rules and regardless of weather Domeric was trying to submit or not, he never technically submitted. Gregor Clegane had committed no clear crime other than not following the unspoken rule of letting a man live who couldn't fight back. It was a clear-cut case of being a bad sportsman but, many lords saw it different.

In fact, Roose Bolton's natural son, Ramsay, was all but inciting civil war amongst the northerners. The boy had wanted Clegane's head on spike and he wasn't shy of voicing it. It took all his powers as the lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King to quell thoughts of secession within the Northerners. The fact that he was hand of the King was the only thing keeping the North from seceding and that was tenuous at best. Already, he had to make some concessions for Domeric's death.

First, he had to legitimize Roose Bolton's bastard, a thing he was loathe to do. He had heard stories about Ramsay Bolton and none of them were too complimentary. Jon had struck up a shaky friendship with Ramsay, mainly due to their bastard status. When he asked about Ramsay, Jon had said that as long as he was kept as head interrogator, he was happy. He would never be a lord, nor did he want to be, he was satisfied being a sadistic fuck, in service of the North. At least, that was how Jon had worded it. Hopefully, his legitimization would quell some of his acerbic rants but, he didn't bet on it.

But Ramsay didn't worry him as much as Roose did. While Ramsay spoke with a loud vitriol, Roose was remarkably silent. He barely spoke during negotiations. He just stood there and let Ramsay do all the talking while he stewed in his cold Northern fury. He had been robbed of an heir, not only that, he had missed the chance for his family to marry into the Stark line. It was a complete loss for Roose Bolton and everyone knew it. To placate his master of spies, Ned reluctantly, gave him an agreement signed by both himself and Robb that the Bolton's would marry into the Stark line within the next two generations. It was his trade for Sansa's freedom, otherwise, she would be honor bound to marry Ramsay Bolton. A prospect he and Robb were vehemently against. Both he and Robb reluctantly signed the agreement but, they both knew it wasn't over. Roose Bolton was a predator in waiting and sooner or later he'd get his revenge.

Ned looked down on the courtyard and it seemed Winterfell had started to stir. He didn't envy the land he was leaving Robb but, he'd be alright. Already, the board was set and the pieces were in motion. The Great Jon had stepped down as a Lord General of the NA in order to take care of his lands and his son since the mountain had crippled him. The Blackfish had promoted Jon to a Lord Commander, he wasn't a General, but he had command of the Iron Fist, while Lord Karstark took command of the Night Fort, and The Blackfish took command of the Moat. Even Roose Bolton had started to move, as soon as Ramsay was legitimized, he had wed The Great Jon's daughter, Lyarra Umber. She was the new Lady of the Dreadfort, a lasting tie between Umber and Bolton that would last generations.

Ned was stirred from his thoughts when he saw Robb with his new wife. The Umbers and the Bolton's weren't the only one's who hadn't been idle this month. He was going south and he was under no illusion that being Hand of the King afforded him much protection. He was a Stark and Starks never did well outside the North.

The realm had seen the North's prosperity and for all intent's in purposes they needed a check for its power. Although, he would be the second most powerful man in the realm, he was also, the crown's most powerful hostage. The North would be less likely to rise in rebellion with its liege lord in King's Landing. So, under those auspicious conditions, Ned had done two things. First, he'd married Rob off to Alys Karstark. The North needed heirs and Robb was doing him no favors staying single. Second, he had called his most trusted lords to Winterfell. He had offered them seats in the new Winter Council. It was like the small council in Kings Landing only Ned had given the council an extraordinary power. The council, with a unanimous vote, could overrule the lord of Winterfell. It was the first council of its kind and hopefully it would use its powers wisely. Ned took one last breath. It was time to break his fast and for ill or not, his fortunes lay in the south and the south alone.

Elsewhere in Winterfell…

Arya and Sansa followed their brothers into the broken tower. They had been woken early by Robb and Jon for no apparent reason. It was their last day in Winterfell and they knew their brothers had something in mind.

"Listen both of you and pay attention." Jon said.

He pulled out a ring. There was nothing special about the ring. Jon slid the top of the ring to the side and it opened to reveal a direwolf underneath the gem (think French resistance scene in Casablance

"Look at it carefully. The white direwolf is the sign of spies loyal to Winterfell. " Robb said.

"Every month we'll have new code phrases and locations of safehouses that have been set up. Only trust our trusted couriers. Don't trust anyone who doesn't know answers to the new code phrases. Do you understand?" Jon said seriously.

Both girls nodded.

"You'll be alone down there but father should keep you safe. These precautions are only for when father is not there." Robb said.

Both girls nodded again. They had never seen their brothers this serious.

Robb looked at Jon and nodded.

"Last thing. Don't tell father." Jon said.

"Why not?" Arya asked.

"Father is the most honorable man we know. If he were told, he'd be duty bound to tell the king. It would do the North no favors if he knows." Jon said.

"When you get south of the Neck. Winterfell and the North are effectively mine. I must do what's best for the North. While father must do what's best for the realm. Sometimes, those two things run contrary to each other. As acting Lord of Winterfell, you'll keep the spy network in King's Landing a secret. That is an order." Robb said.

Both girls nod in understanding. In the south, they were more akin to hostages instead of guests. It would do no good for their father to have divided loyalties this early into his handship. Robb nodded to Jon again.

Jon went to open a chest.

"Lift up your skirts." Jon said.

Sansa was scandalized.

"What!"

Arya just had breeches so she had no skirt to lift.

"Don't get your britches in a twist sister. I just want to make sure you know how to wear this." Jon said.

Jon presented Sansa with a small belt that held a dagger.

"It goes around your thigh. You wear it underneath your dress." Jon said.

Arya and Sansa were both interested now.

Robb took a dagger from one of the two belts.

"If you're in trouble, grab the knife and strike under the arm or the neck." He demonstrated on Jon.

"If worse comes to worse. Knee his privates and strike when he is in shock." Jon said.

Both girls took their daggers.

"If your going blank and are in a fright. Remember your first lesson." Jon said.

"What's the first lesson?" Sansa asked.

"Stick them with the pointy end." Jon, Robb, and Arya said at the same time.

Winterfell….

Lord Stark was still admiring the scenery when his Castellan, Ser Rodrick strolled in.

"Lord Stark, I don't mean to interrupt but, we've found some deserters." Ser Rodrick said.

Ned nodded to the man.

"I guess, we'll have to postpone our departure for the next couple of days. Get me Robb and my children. It seems like its time for Robb to wield Ice for the first time." Ned said.

Ser Rodrick nodded in understanding.

Ned took ice from the wall and sheathed it. He'd miss this sword but, it was Robb's now. It was no use taking it to King's Landing. It belonged in the North. He just hoped that Robb would never have to wield it in anger as much as he did.

Yikes. When was the last time I updated this thing. I've had to reread the entire thing because I completely forgot about it. Hopefully, I won't forget it again.