Stannis IV

The snowstorm slowed down, as the northern nobility and the remains of the king's southorn armies were gathered before a makeshift courtyard in the middle of Winterfell. King Stannis's bones ached, as it had been three days since he had fought the battle that made him a warrior again. The war was the victory he needed to make himself a king again, even though his loss at the Blackwater still plagued his mind; he had been so close to sitting the Iron Throne and have it taken away in a swoop. The north was a savage place, it bred hardy men and women, willing to endure everything, just to have the right chance to rebel against the Boltons, and it was fortunate his son and the Greyjoy woman killed the bastard, and half the royal force led by Luthor Estermont broke through the lines and led the butchery of Bolton and Whitehill soldiers left on the field, but it was necessary to win the castle back. The northern lords and ladies left inside the castle had imprisoned Roose Bolton and kept his Frey wife, Lady Walda locked in the old chambers of Catelyn Stark with her servants.

The stink of rotting heads irritated the king, as he stood on the wooden platform. Stannis turned to look at the heads stuck on the spikes of Winterfell for all the north and seven kingdoms to see, as the heads were familiar and were his most important kills and spoils of the northern war. He still had more executions to get through, even though a few had been done and the Greyjoy boy was first to die by the weirwood tree, by the request of his grief-stricken sister Asha, who was still in tears for her brother's death and dying so far from the sea. It was the price he paid for being a turncloak, but the northern lords and ladies were pleased with the king's actions and ruthless stance of executing the rebels and traitors, and even beheading Theon Greyjoy by his own hand, as it was also a request made by his sister and let it be known the king did not pay his debts, as he owed one to the ironborn woman for saving his son's life.

The next line of traitors were brought before the king, as most of the men were in the coat of arms of Houses Frey, Bolton and Whitehill, as the Ryswells and Dustins were smarter than people thought with the interlinked northern houses being the ones responsible for the imprisonment of Roose Bolton, his wife Fat Walda and all her men at arms and serving girls she brought from the Twins. Lord Bolton's Frey wife was the latest addition of women prisoners, King Stannis kept beside Asha Greyjoy and Gwyn Whitehill, as that girl was forced to see the dead and mangled bodies of her lord father and all her brothers brought in for their bodies to be burned, as the northerners were cautious and the king heeded the young lord commander's lesson from when they first met at Castle Black. The dead will not be rising in Winterfell, especially when his son and second cousin led to burning the bodies of the men they lost on the battlefield.

"Coming here brings bad memories, as it was the home of the man Robert slighted me for. The Stark loyalists were thankful, but only half acknowledged me as their king, as most would rather bend to a Stark than they do me. The dead Greyjoy boy impressed the northern lords for the sceptics to be turned into loyal subjects, but coming outside was best, better to hear the screams of dying men, than the grief-stricken cries of the Greyjoy woman, after seeing her brother one last time, as his head was planted next to Bolton's bastard Ramsay Snow. The death of the bastard was heard through some outriders from House Dustin as my son and Lady Asha were the ones, who killed him and left an axe buried in his shoulder, what happened between my son and that woman out there?"

Stannis Baratheon was the rightful king, and it was difficult for prideful northerners to swear fealty to him. Lady Freya of House Cerwyn was one of the first to acknowledge her king, after hearing of the deaths of Ludd Whitehill and all his sons on the battlefield, alongside Hosteen Frey and his brothers and nephews as well. The remaining Frey boys were too young for the chopping block, as he had to wait for them to get older for that time to come. The serving girls of Fat Walda were compliant with his son Prince Jacob, when it came to accounting for the prisoners in Winterfell and throwing the Frey boys in the dungeons. The king came to Winterfell in chaos and disorder, but the last three days were about fixing things and maintaining order amongst the chaos of the desertion of the northern supporters of Roose Bolton and that man was going to be executed for all the north to see, and to look in the faces of the lords and ladies, he subjugated for fealty.

His son Prince Jacob and second cousin Ser Luthor were standing in the front of the crowd of nobles, next to the Lady Cerwyn and Lord Artos Flint. The king brought his best swordsmen on the plank, Ser Godry and Ser Richard were with him, but Stannis knew Ser Clayton Suggs died in battle and paid his respects to such a loyal Queen's Man. Things got better when Hother "Whoresbane" Umber surrendered, when the battle was lost and pledged his men into Stannis's service, to assist in the mass butchery of Boltons, Whitehills and Freys remaining and he allowed it. The Umbers were staunch northmen and it was difficult for Stannis to get these men onto his side, but the surrender of Crowfood's brother made the shift in having all the forces of House Umber. The king saw the Whoresbane as a traitor and threw him in the dungeons as well as the other highborn prisoners the king amassed after the battle of ice and blood.

"Bring me the prisoners." The king commanded, and his men answered with bringing the latest batch of prisoners for execution as most of them were Freys and one Roose Bolton, who looked all tattered in his furs and he looked a mess from solidarity confinement.

King Stannis glared at Roose Bolton, knowing the man was beaten and defeated, the death of his bastard saw little tears come from him. All Bolton's allies gave him up, when the battle was lost and killed his loyalists inside the castle. The leech lord looked worried with his eyes shifting from side to side, maybe concerned for his fat wife and the Bolton babe she carried in her belly. The man was not heartless and would make Lady Walda's confinement as comfortable as possible, until she reached the birthing bed and her child was born. Solitary confinement was suited to Lord Bolton, as he was a valued prisoner. The Bolton Lord's furs and cloak were a mess, as the man looked dirty, even though the king offered Roose Bolton one bath, as the kingkiller was still a high lord and was treated as such, no matter how much a criminal he was and scum in the face of the north.

On the left of Bolton stood Lord Arnolf Karstark, his sons Arthor and Harald and his three grandsons were all in chains, brought before the king and were lucky to have survived the frostbite of the battlefield, but he was fortunate they did not escape in the chaos of the war. Stannis hated these men more than he did Bolton, as one of them had wounded his son and he will not forget about it. These men were going to die, and he will do something to lure Lady Alys to return home and take over Karhold, as it will be easier for the lady to return when her great-uncle and his sons are dead. He did not approve of the wildling marriage, as written to him by his lady wife Queen Selyse, when the king got access to Winterfell's ravenry and the castle maester was killed. It was good, as Maester Willem came into replace the dead man before him, even though he was from the Forrester retinue, the king wanted to keep the maester here, as the portly man saved his son's life.

The Karstarks had spoiled fruits thrown at them, by the household of Winterfell as the king allowed it, as those men deserved to be mocked by all sections. King Stannis gritted between his teeth, every time he had to see these worms, the worms who almost ended his son's life. He had to keep calm and civil, with the Karstarks living on borrowed time and everything they schemed for was all for nothing. Arnolf glared at Lord Roose, whom both were stripped of their finery and were dressed in rags as the common criminals they are, underneath highborn titles. The two men on their knees were disappointed, as their heads were lowered, not being brave enough to face the lords and ladies, they schemed against and how they will get the last laugh, especially the Mormonts and Umbers. The king wanted to get this over and done with, as he had more important things to get sorted, such as his son's marriage and finally arranging a wedding after so many disappointments through the years.

There was nothing to worry about, as Bolton's wife is content, even though she was a glorified prisoner, but was treated better than Asha Greyjoy and Gwyn Whitehill were. The Bolton Lord was brought to his knees, by the king's men as he will not make himself the kneeler in front of the northern lords he will never see again. King Stannis was not ignorant to the fact, he aged at least ten years older than his actual age as his son pointed out on their way into the castle, but the king ignored it. He had more important things to deal with, such as meeting all the lords and ruling ladies of the north one on one, even though he will talk with Lord Wyman after the executions, especially when it came to a marriage proposal Ser Davos made when he was at White Harbor. Stannis was grateful to know his onion knight was alive, and the Manderly did not kill him as previously thought, as it was only to keep his son from smashing Lord Wyman's teeth for murder.

"I Stannis Baratheon, First of My Name; King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men; the Rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, hereby sentence Lord Roose of House Bolton to death by beheading for the following crimes, assassination, suppression of the north, allyship with the usurpers who sit on my throne; compliance in the terror unleashed upon Horwood by the bastard Ramsay Snow and the blood of Lady Hornwood and Robb Stark are upon his hands and allowing the torture of a highborn man to happen under his own keep." The king said, listing the known crimes the Bolton Lord had done and the others of the bastard will be laid upon him, as the boy was his spawn and he allowed him to commit such crimes without stopping him.

The Bolton Lord said nothing, even in solitary confinement as a man of few words. He said nothing again, even when accused of all his crimes in front of the northern lords and ladies, even the mountain clans were present for the execution. As a northman, Roose Bolton forfeited his right to be beheaded by the weirwood tree, as he soiled his hands with the blood of Robb Stark and the people his bastard killed, in his wardenship of the north. The king realised the man's good-sister Lady Barbery of House Dustin resided the man's fate, even though he was married to her late sister and the father of her favourite nephew, who was killed by his own bastard half-brother, at least Roose Bolton could die knowing his trueborn heir was avenged. The rotting head of Bolton's bastard was seen for all the citizens of Winterfell to see, and even Lord Bolton turned to look at the head once and never again, but the chained Karstarks next to him were also silent, not wanting to make things worse than they were for themselves, Stannis will kill these men himself as he will do Roose Bolton.

"Lord Bolton is the not the only lord, who will be punished as such, by his left are men, who deserve death more than anything. I hereby also sentence Lord Arnolf of House Karstark, his sons Arthor and Harald and all three of his lordling grandsons to death for the following crimes; corresponding with the enemy at war, attempted murder twice on my person and my son's person too, complicity causing the death of the rightful lord of Karhold, an attempt to steal the rights of Lady Alys of House Karstark of her home and keep for a false marriage arrangement and using untruths to solidify a false alliance." King Stannis said, with the crimes of the Karstarks more recent in his mind and he personally wanted Harald, the middle son to suffer for attempting to kill his son.

A gag fell from the mouth of one of the Karstark's sons and was shifting through his chains. "You will never win the war, Andal scum. I do not regret trying to kill your son, you and your family deserve to die for your abhorrent beliefs being spread across the realm."

King Stannis stood dignified, not bothered by the words of the Karstark, who tried to kill his heir. He held onto the hilt of Lightbringer, as he will deal with the highborn deaths at his own hand. The man glared at Ser Godry and Ser Richard, indicating they step back, as he will take over and take the lives of the Bolton and Karstarks on their knees before him. Death was something Stannis dealt with as the king, and he will see more bloodshed before anything can be simple and uncomplicated again. As the rightful king, he had to show strength in front of northmen and women, who will willingly rebuff his claim again, but he proved himself to them by butchering the Freys outside of the castle walls and the death of Ramsay Snow can be attributed to his spurs in war, even though it was his son, who killed the bastard with the help of Asha Greyjoy, a threat to his son's marriage plans worse than the rebel northerners in the castle.

The man raised the sword of Lightbringer above the heads of the men, and began slicing the heads of every man on his knees to die, even the grandsons of Lord Arnolf, whom were all tweens and old enough for the chopping block, as the blood from their removed heads soiled the wooden plank they were on. The red stained the simple grey armour of the king, but his face unflinching by the deaths by his hand, but the bodies will be burned in the hour of the wolf, whilst the heads will be put on spikes next to the heads of Theon Greyjoy and the brothers of Walda Bolton. A bloodbath was the understatement, as Stannis disliked that word, as it was used by the young and the ignorant of his loyalists from the few houses, whom will stand by him. It was an ignorant boy by the name of Myles Florent would use that word whenever stories of war were in his ears, as the boy was spoiled rotten by all members of Stannis's good family, being one of the last sons born of their house with the Florent name.

As the blood soaked the wood, none of it touched the king's boots as he looked at his sword coated with red. It was over and Stannis was glad it was, as executions should not take long, even though he was putting highborn men to death in front of the solemn faces of the northerners. He was glad to see the head of Harald Karstark roll, as he is nothing but a rotting head to be put on Winterfell's spikes, alongside the rest of his family, Roose Bolton, the Frey brothers and Theon Greyjoy. The war took a toll on Stannis, as his bones ached again, it was not a symptom of age but from the sin he committed with the Lady Melisandre, had he been a believer in the Seven, then the Faith would have granted him clemency and a chance for redemption of the sin he was a part of. The Seven Kingdoms knew Stannis Baratheon for a heathen and deserved death by stones, but he did not care as he was the rightful king and all his enemies will face the same fate as the men, whom their heads are on Winterfell's gates.

"The Karstarks and Roose Bolton are dead, but it leaves me emptier than before. The Greyjoy woman stands next to my son as if she is his friend. I will not stand for it, after all the times I spoke to him about staying away from her and her ilk. Lord Manderly know my patience runs out, when it comes to negotiating the marriage between my son and his granddaughter, the elder one. Not the wild one with green hair. The younger granddaughter used her voice against her own grandfather and reminded him of his loyalty to the Starks and urged her lord grandfather to join me against the Boltons and Freys. A young girl knows evil before any old man does, as he will spend his lifetime bending his knee to such evil such as the Boltons and Freys. I know I must deal with the rest of the Freys in the Riverlands, as soon as the storm clears."

The king's fears of the Greyjoy were becoming a reality; he was not vigilante enough and he should have known about his son and Lady Asha escaping from the battle to hunt Ramsay Snow down themselves. It was not until Stannis found out of Luthor wearing his son's antlered dark gold helm as a shade on the battlefield. He was not happy about the fact the Estermont boy, would impersonate his prince and led his half of his host, whilst his son followed the ironborn near the walls of Winterfell and killed the Snow boy and his men at arms, even the rabid hounds were dead as well. King Stannis turned away, as he needed his sword cleaned and left his loyal knights to deal with the bodies and the heads of the men, he beheaded.

King Stannis claimed the former solar of Ned Stark, as there were no Starks left and he was the highest man of authority in this castle. He spent most days reading old letters sent to Lord Bolton, in his tenure as Warden of the North, but the ones sent by the Lannisters were burned at the fireplace and never seen again. The snowstorm outside of Winterfell was the least of the stag king's problems, since his enemies struggled with more than what they can handle, especially with the letters detailing the Lannister-Tyrell struggle with dealing with the Greyjoy brothers raiding the Reach with the full force of the Iron Fleet, the same fleet Stannis himself defeated years ago. Mace Tyrell must be shitting himself, if he was going to allow ironborn scum to steal the bounty of the south and to rape and kill his subjects. The solar was cold and dull, as was the Stark Lord himself that sat here years ago himself. The king sorted through the old and new letters and keeping the ones of most importance to him and his plans to take the throne again.

The man assumed his lady wife and daughter were content, with several Queen's Men stationed to protect them. He will not risk the lives of his family, but Selyse practically begged him to allow her to be present at their son's wedding, as Stannis would usually deny his wife her delusional requests. The Wall was a harsh place, filled with the worst of the Seven Kingdoms, but Stannis had the cells of Winterfell filled with men from enemy houses, as House Whitehill was no more than a girl as it's heir with the men dead on the battlefield. Where was Ser Justin? The king was certain his most obedient knight will return soon, but for how long, as the battle of ice and blood had been won and Winterfell and the north was his for the moment. A new warden will need to be appointed from the loyal Stark houses, not the ones that sided with the Boltons and Freys, whilst their fellow northmen were dying in the cells of the Twins.

"A new warden will be appointed as soon as the snow clears the north and the storm stops, even though the storm has raged outside the walls of Winterfell for five days and nights. The Riverlands were still under Lannister control, even though the riverlords will find a way to rebel, as the north did. The proclamation of the Long Night returning against is frightening, especially when I am supposed to be the great hero come again, all the Lady Melisandre's mystic babblings and there are no truths or proof to it. I know I am not the chosen hero, but I am content with the fact, as I have a kingdom to save and a house to rebuild."

The return of Ser Justin left the focus of the king to the man, who will visit the solar later. Lord Wyman requested to dine with him and give salt and bread from his own wagons, but Stannis could not be bought and remembered the fat lord rebuffed his fealty like a jape. He could not afford to slight the richest lord of the north, especially because of his bitter musings of having the entire north under his rule, but the man was going to give him his granddaughter for his son to marry before the sept and weirwood tree of Winterfell. Better the Manderly girl than the soiled daughter of Mathis Rowan birthing Stannis's grandchildren in the future, as it will not be filled with dread. The Manderlys were the closest to a southorn family in the north and the girl will have been taught courtly graces that will make Selyse comfortable as a future queen.

King Stannis spoke to his son in this solar once, and never again for the next four days. He was not blind to his son's activities, as he heard from a passing servant of seeing the young prince enjoying the company of the mountain clansmen and the northern nobility. Lady Barbery was poison, and Stannis did not want his son to be filled with the same as her. His heir was bedding the serving girls and handmaids of the northern ladies that stayed in Winterfell, whilst the battle raged on. It was told the king's son was lonely and needed company other than his cousin, since the king himself dismissed Ser Sorrell from his service and isolated him more from people than he previously thought. The rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms began to write letters by his own hand, one for Ser Davos when he returns from the mission Lord Manderly sent him on, but he knew the onion knight will die before he failed his king again.

The doors of the solar opened for the portly, Lord Wyman Manderly to enter on a wagon pushed by six men at arms strong enough to do so. The lord was too fat to sit on a horse but was he a liar in that regard or did he ride a wheelhouse to Winterfell to welcome Roose Bolton as Warden of the North, rather than swear fealty to his rightful king. The fat man had little to deny, since his granddaughter will be queen and the future of birthing the next generation of Baratheons, who will do their house better than the king and his forgone brothers. The lord was adorned in the heavy fabric doublet of his house colours of green and blue, and everything he owed had his merman sigil on it. The Manderly men at arms placed their lord on the seat opposite the king, as he pushed his letters to one side and looked the fat lord straight in the eye with his hands crossed together. Servants entered the solar with plates of food for the two men sitting by the table, as it was not too much, with the king wanting to save food to feed his subjects of the north and keep them alive through winter.

"I'm glad to finally meet you, Your Grace. A shame lesser lords went before me." Lord Wyman said, huffing under his breath as the king feared the man will die before he sees his granddaughter married in the sept to a suitable husband.

"Enough niceties, you know why you are here in the solar." King Stannis replied.

"Ah….the marriage contract. The dowry provided by House Manderly will befit His Grace to what he pleases with it."

"I know why you rebuffed me; you needed your son back. The father of my son's future wife was a captive of the Lannisters, and you needed him home, for your sake and for Ser Wylis's lady wife, who spoke to my envoy with great disrespect and scorn."

"I am sorry for Lady Leona, she loves her husband and fears consequences from the Lannisters, Your Grace."

"You think you can push your granddaughter on my son and things will be good, my lord."

"No…Your Grace I believe we are better as allies than enemies."

"Your granddaughter better be the vision of beauty you boasted about, unless I want to be linked to some other northman as family."

"There is trouble in the capital, Your Grace. The return of the Faith Militant in the leadership of some barefooted man called the High Sparrow, spouting hateful rhetoric in King's Landing. The Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, Margaery Tyrell and her handmaidens have been arrested by this band of fanatics and causing disorder in the capitol."

"Why should that matter to me?"

"If what my son's wife said was true about you and the red priestess, you brought into the Seven Kingdoms, this band of fanatics will seek to destroy you and what is left of your house."

"He cannot reach me, as the north is buried in snow, unless the Faith Militant want to freeze to their graves."

"As your son is a patron of the Seven, loyal worshippers such as myself will listen to him and get behind him, if an eventual battle is to be had with the Faith Militant."

The king found the food at his table satisfactory; he did not find pleasure in food as Robert did. He ignored most of Lord Wyman's ramblings of this High Sparrow character, as that man and the Faith Militant have essentially taken his lawful kingdom and deposed the Lannister bitch and the Tyrell whore. Stannis could not imagine hardened men like Mathis Rowan and Randyll Tarly standing by as their queen is arrested and not being able to do anything and it being too late to abandon the alliance with the Lannisters. As a man of no faith, it will be difficult for the king to try and get allies and take his kingdom back from the fanatics of the Faith before it's too late. In his mind, Stannis knew this preacher character had a point to hold the Lannisters accountable for the wars they started and the destabilisation of the Riverlands and leaving the people of the Reach to suffer at the hands of the ironborn.

Stannis was no lover of the Faith of the Seven, especially after the death of his parents and Maester Cressen. His son and heir on the other hand, was a patron of the Faith and was always a good citizen in the eyes of the High Septon and the Most Devout, as it was Jacob's faith that kept the southerners loyal to the king and it was what impressed Lord Manderly enough to throw his granddaughter in his son's bed for marriage. Eating with the fat lord was bristly at best, as the two men were no means friends, but were allies that found each other in the middle of a complex game started by Roose Bolton, whose head is rotting on the spikes of Winterfell. He would consider Bolton's widow Lady Walda to take charge of the Dreadfort with what remained of Bolton's armies, until her unborn child came of age and she will understand the price of rebellion more than her husband and brothers did.

"It would be great to unite the houses of Forrester and Whitehill with marriage, with the Forrester man in command of Highpoint." Lord Wyman suggested, even though the king bristled at the thought of such a union, but it will benefit him more since the Forresters fought on his side.

"More weddings will need to be had to unite the north." King Stannis replied.

"Great idea, Your Grace, since the Boltons and Starks left the north in such chaos and disorder, in which only a man such as yourself can bring order here."

"How old are the daughters of the Greatjon and Mors Crowfood, my lord?"

"Why such a question?"

"To have a replacement, unless you play me false and you will live to see an Umber be queen before one of Ser Wylis's daughters."

"I shall not play you false, as you got rid of the Boltons and Freys. The spikes look decorative today, Your Grace. The Lannisters will know what you did and deposed their puppets in the north."

"The storm will hinder the Lannisters or Tyrells from sending any armies, as they are dealing with the Faith Militant and the ironborn invasion of the Reach."

"It must be good for you, to have the advantage over your enemies."

"And have some pointed-star worshipping fanatic and his servants essentially take over my kingdoms. No offence to you, my lord as I know your house is a patron of the Faith and my family used to be."

"No offence taken, Your Grace. I was wrong to think you were converted to the worship of fire, but Ser Davos spoke true after all."

"The wedding will take a lot from us, as it will be a short and simple ceremony. When will your granddaughters be brought over?"

"The girls are on their way to Winterfell, with their mother and father as you speak, since I ordered them to come when the battle of ice and blood ended."

"It will be a great occasion, to celebrate unity and an alliance between north and south again. It will take longer for my lady wife and daughter to make their way from the Wall for the wedding, as Winterfell is secure enough for them to stay."

"Shall we toast to our alliance, Your Grace."

"Not until my son and your granddaughter are wedded and bedded."

"What will happen to Lady Walda and your other female prisoners?"

"I will keep them here, until after the birth of Roose Bolton's last child. I will make sure the Lady Walda is treated well and is content with her quarters in the castle, as for Lady Gwyn and Lady Asha, they will rot in the dungeons separate from the men."

"The ironborn woman should have been executed alongside her brother, the turncloak."

"I choose to keep Lady Asha with me, as my hostage against her raiding uncles, but the Lady Gwyn will be married to her old Forrester lover again, for the sake of duty and unity."

"As least, some people will get a happy ending in this dreaded world."

The king cannot be excited, as he has dealt with one disappointment after the other when it came to Jacob's betrothals and future marriages, but he will finally walk down the aisle with the eldest of Lord Manderly's granddaughters and finally bed someone other than northern serving girls or Lady Asha. The worst that can come to Stannis's mind will be the ironborn wench bedding his son, even though they spent a significant time together and killed Ramsay Snow. He will not turn a blind eye again, even though Jacob will always do such things behind his back to irritate him, as it's the way of rebellious heir trying to test his father's patience. The king's heir is smart enough to know the consequences of bedding such an undesirable woman, when his bride is leagues away from Winterfell and will be presented before him, as they will be married before Winterfell's sept and before the heart tree to please the traditional northern lords.

King Stannis was no friend of Lord Wyman, but the man will become his most powerful ally in the fight against what is threatening the north and reclaim his throne, for the sake of his house and the future of it blossoming under Jacob and Shireen's hand. He did not want to face the inevitable, but it was the king's own fault for turning a blind eye to what his son is doing with his time, as dismissing Sorrell Grimm was the worst thing the man had done. He had to do it, honour and duty demanded that man be punished for his failure, even though the man was the only man, a part from Ser Davos, who can tell Prince Jacob what he does not like and can tell him no, when the king cannot because he was his son and heir. Stannis would never refuse his son what he wanted, even though he judged Renly and Robert for spoiling him too much in his childhood, as the last trueborn son of House Baratheon and his son being very important in the game of thrones and the security of Storm's End.

The merman lord was beginning to be pushed by his men at arms on the wagon, but Stannis saw the man in the beginning for a liar and a fraud. He was reminded of Lord Manderly's claim on the lands of Hornwood, even though the Glovers were fostering the previous lord's bastard son, and as the king Stannis could legitimize the boy and have him betrothed to one of the northern maidens, whom are not married and unite the north with even more marriages arranged in the next few days. The rest of the king's host and the northerners stuck in Winterfell for the foreseeable future, he will need to occupy his time with tasks, which will take the time from his mind. The thought of some fanatic in control of his kingdom, his capitol made the king grit his teeth, and the southorns call him and fanatic for allowing the Lady Melisandre her right to worship her god, even in foreign lands with his lady wife Queen Selyse, as her first convert to the religion of R'hllor.

"I met Larence Snow, after the battle of Deepwood Motte, the boy had only turned four and ten and was pleased to see the ironborn gone from the castle. That boy would accept my offer better than the Lord Commander would, as he will make a fine husband as a legitimized Hornwood and no Bolton will get their hands on those lands, as long as I am king. Lord Manderly will seek to marry his green-haired daughter to the boy, but there are other brides to be considered. I would have chosen the green hair as Jacob's wife, but the girl is too wild and spirited to be shoved in a southorn court. Her elder sister Wynafryd will adjust to court life and will be a dutiful queen."

Stannis realised the dread Asha Greyjoy presented to his plans, with her foolish infatuation with getting a crown of her own. That woman pranced around Winterfell, under his nose and soiling herself with his heir. He will be damned if his first grandchild turns out to be a half-ironborn bastard. The king hoped the rest of the Manderlys arrived in Winterfell soon, as this marriage has been hanging over the king's shoulder since the northern campaign started, some of his original plans have failed but new ones sprout out from the ashes. He will not allow ironborn scum, the last of Balon Greyjoy's line to destroy the future of his house with her recklessness and infatuation with a crown. The king knew his son was on his way, after the meeting with Lord Manderly to tell him the news, even though Jacob had enough of false betrothals, all for them to end in disappointment, but the fat lord gave the king his word his granddaughter will walk the sept, even if the storm outside was raging. His son remained unmarried for so long and Stannis blamed himself for it.

The rightful king can be too bothered, as his son's future and the future of House Baratheon was on the line. Only Stannis, Jacob and Shireen remained of the trueborn line, and they all had a duty to preserve it for the next generation, even if the king's grandchildren will be half-northern. Stannis never wanted Shireen's marriage prospects to be as low as his son, but he was lucky to have a male heir, as such is better for a house to advance in power and it's why the Florents stayed loyal to him, not out of love for him or Selyse, but for Jacob and the future children he will have. There were so few Florents left, and many of them stayed with their rightful king, even when being hounded down by the Lannisters and Tyrells, maybe it was hope of gaining their lands and wealth back when Stannis or Jacob ascended the Iron Throne.

The letters were being written, especially towards the Wall for his wife to have her and his daughter brought to Winterfell before the bride arrived with her mother and father. King Stannis was not looking forward to seeing his wife again, knowing she will wail and cry over their son and the scars he gained from this war and blame him for it. He will not have the Lady Melisandre brought down, since she thrives in isolated surroundings where his lords cannot belittle her anymore, and not cause problems with the northern lords. He had enough issues to deal with, and he will not allow the red priestess to cost him his last opportunity to gain another army to fight for his throne again. It was her lies and untruths that made him fail the first time, and the king will not make the same mistake again.

The double doors of the northern solar opened for his son to enter, but the king saw a red-haired man standing by his heir, as it was Luthor Estermont and he was left outside. King Stannis had warmed more to the Estermont boy and was more comfortable with the knight being his son's companion than Sorrell Grimm or Asha Greyjoy. The heir of the Iron Throne was sullener than his father thought, as he wrapped himself in northern furs and looked more like a northman than a southorn man in the king's mind. He never ignored how much his son was growing up way from him, especially when being complimented with looking much like Robert, when he began his rebellion against the Mad King. Stannis had let go of some of his bitter jealousy, as it was destroying his relationship with his son, and letting those feelings go made things better and his son was more receptive to him, unlike when he would wonder off and intentionally avoid him.

Prince Jacob was a man, and he looked like one as he was no boy, after five battles and being responsible for the death of Ramsay Snow. His son's blue eyes were steeled and were hardened, as the king saw his heir return from the battlefield with blood smeared all over his face, as if the red was a mask worn, whilst dragging the body of the dead bastard with the ironborn woman by his side. His son was a battle-hardened warrior and was a killer of men, not the court politician he was. The prince left his cousin outside, and closed the doors of the solar, as he had a small limp on his leg when he approached the seat opposite the king. Stannis knew the limp was temporary, as long as his son was visiting Maester Willem and he will be fit to walk as he should. The king's son looked nothing like his father, as there was no trace of Florent blood in him, unlike his daughter Princess Shireen, who had the big ears and the nose of her maternal family.

The prince sat down, with his head leaning against his hand. "Lord Manderly was smiling on his way to his guest chambers, did you do something to please him dearly." The prince said, in a dull tone.

"I plan to legitimize the bastard Hornwood boy, when he arrives in Winterfell with the Glovers." The king replied.

"I understand, since he is his father's last son left and the people of Hornwood would be pleased to see them return to their seat."

"At least, he will take the offer, unlike a certain lord commander."

"I know you are bitter about Jon, but Starks are too honourable to take such a deal. He would rather die than steal the claim of his half-siblings."

"Tell me true, and don't lie to me. Are you bedding Asha Greyjoy?"

"The maids of the Dustin widow, yes to be honest, as whores are not my taste. I am not bedding Asha, we may have killed a man together, but we will never be friends."

"That is good to know. You will be married four days after the Lady Wynafryd arrives with the rest of her family."

"I'm glad, father. There is finally a wedding, no stops again. I'm quite excited to take this next stage of my life. I would never envision myself to be a father." Jacob said, wondering if he was good enough to father children and raise them.

"A man is not only by his age, but his ability to do his duty to his house and his family, no matter what's at stake. You will be a better man than me, a better man than Robert and a better man than Renly, since our generation soiled House Baratheon and it will be you, who will bring respect and honour back to our house." Stannis declared.

"What did you speak with Lord Manderly about?"

"It's between lords and kings, nothing for you to be concerned with. Southorn politics and other northern marriage arrangements."

"I'm glad you put your issues with Lord Wyman behind you, as we will need his support to survive winter."

"He likes you already, a patron of the Faith and is content you will treat his granddaughter well."

"We will also wed in the godswood, as a show of respect to the northerners, who worship the Old Gods, but mother will not like it."

"Your mother and sister will arrive for the wedding. I will not deprive you of seeing your mother and sister there at the altar. The Wall is now stable, and the north is rid of the Boltons."

"I hope Uncle Axell brings the Baratheon cloak and other wedding trinkets with him."

The king realised it was not a good idea, to leave the Baratheon marriage cloak in the hands of a fanatic like Ser Axell, but the man was his wife's uncle and the only one she had left. His son will practice the Faith's wedding customs as a way of integrating himself with the Manderlys and showing the rest of the kingdoms, he has not converted to Melisandre's religion. Stannis was unsure of his son being married in the eyes of the red leaved tree as well, but he knew why he wanted to do it, as a show of respect to the northern lords and not alienate them more than this war already did. The king knows Jacob will lead one day and he will be dead and gone, but now will be the time to teach Jacob more life lessons as he can, since the storm has trapped them all in Winterfell with no hope of moving the armies to the Riverlands and getting rid of Lord Walder and the rest of his repugnant brood. At least Walda Bolton and the child in her belly will be under Stannis's control for the foreseeable future and she makes a valuable hostage for her troll of a grandfather, and he will do anything to make sure a great-grandchild rules the Dreadfort.

There was a smile on his son's face, but Stannis was not blind to his heir keeping company with women, he should stay away from, especially highborn hostages. It did not hurt, since Jacob was only making Lady Walda comfortable, since she is with child and must live with seeing the rotting heads of her husband and brothers on the spikes of Winterfell. His only son's eyes glared at him, as they were steeled from war and death, but it was all Baratheon steel and not the wiles of the fox, he showed when bedding Lady Dustin's serving girls. It disgusted the king to even think of it, as it was known and not a secret to be kept, may be Lady Barbery was conspiring against Lord Wyman in supplanting his marriage plans. His son was unmarried, a man and available, which was a prize in the eyes of the northern and southorn lords, since the latter missed their opportunity, as they chose to bend the knee to the usurpers, who sit on his throne.

"The wedding will be grand, since it will unite the north again. Lady Walda is glad to see a wedding that is happy than of total misery." Prince Jacob said.

"Why are you socialising with my hostages?" King Stannis replied, gritting his teeth again.

"I'm making them comfortable, since the north is harsh and cold. Better they are content then they are loathing us."

"The Greyjoy woman stays out, Lady Walda is more of a priority than her, since she is with child."

"The birth will be interesting to see if it's a son or a daughter, as Roose Bolton's last child, at least this one will have a future unlike the murdered trueborn heir."

"You will do your duty and get the Manderly girl with child as quick as possible. This war has gone too long, and I desire to see a grandson in my arms."

"What if a granddaughter comes first? Will you be disappointed?" Jacob said, in a forced tone.

"It does not matter, but your mother will not care as a grandchild will mean more to than the gender of the child."

"The serving girls of old widow Dustin were good company, even though I get death glares from her Ryswell nephews. I was not planning on marrying one of Lady Barbery's nieces behind your back."

"Good, you see how much this marriage alliance is important to the future of our house."

"Will you give Ser Justin his reward of marrying Lady Asha when he returns from Braavos?"

"I will consider it. As the rightful king, I will reward loyal knights, who do as they are bid. The marriage will suffice, with Asha Greyjoy's uncles are pillaging the Reach, causing problems for our Lannister and Tyrell enemies in King's Landing."

"Asha's old husband must be dead by now, it's best to look for a new husband for her, while we are here."

"The options are thin, since most of the men have been killed."

"We will always find a way, since we survived the storm and the northern war together."

King Stannis will not admit it, but he smiled on the inside. He was a cold man, who would kill without a second thought, but his son brought him a joy, he had not had since when his mother and father were alive, and his family was whole and unbroken. The marriage with Wynafryd Manderly will change Jacob and it will make him a better man and stop bedding the northern maids and do his duty as a husband to her. He knows he cannot force Jacob to do what he does not want to do, it's the Baratheon stubbornness he inherited and there was nothing, the king could do to dull his heir's fascination of frustrating him. Stannis has a chance, unlike with Renly to be a better man for his son, his wife and his daughter, since the snowstorm has given him the time, to rule the north until the storm clear the roads and paths for the king and his armies, to claim the seven kingdoms and finally sit on the iron throne.