Winterfell

[Percy Rivers]

The two men at Roose's side gave a sigh of relief as the magnificent castle of House Stark came into view. Roose looked on it in intrest, his years at the Wall had made him forget the castle of Brandon the Builder. No, my castle. "My lord, we've made it! We're home!" Said Quin.

They rode through the winter village outside the walls of Winterfell, it has a hive of activity. Roose looked around, wondering why so many people were occupying the houses.

When they finally entered through the open gate, a guard hailed them. "Halt! Who comes to Winterfell?" Before he could answer Quin spoke, "Why, 'tis me Paddy! With the young wolf himself!" The guard studied Roose for a moment. "Is that truly him? By the gods he's grown."

[Fel]

OOC Haha, "Paddy"

[Percy Rivers]

OOC: I like to mix up my names a bit, I find myself making up names for random NPCs and finding out I've already used it because it's a common Westerosi name.

IC: Roose through the man a withering look, and then immediately corrected himself. He had never quite gotten over his wildness, but Benjen Stark had made sure it was mostly corrected. Half way across the courtyard the maester came to meet him. "My lord, there is urgent news from both the south, and from Bear Island."

"Uh, yes. I mean, please tell. I, uh, mean, uh...go on." Roose felt himself stumble over the lordly courtesies.

[Percy Rivers]

"Lyas Bolton has been declared an outlaw. They apparently attacked your camp, hoping to...ensure your safety I'm sure. And Ironborn ships have been seen along the coast, mostly around Deepwood Motte."

[Percy Rivers]

"I ah..." Roose ran over the numberless lessons with Benjen through his head. And then, in an instant a determined look came across his face, a grim look, a Stark look. "Have Lords Ryswell, Flint, and Glover raise three levies. Gather any horse in the surrounding are here."

"My lord..." answere the maester, "Lyas Bolton ordered those levies raised months ago."

[Percy Rivers]

Roose studied hard every day with the maester, leadership and warfare with the master-at-arms, and then combat in the yard. As he grew older, he looked more and more like the Starks, the heirs of the North.

[Percy Rivers]

At Winterfell, Roose was recieved by the maester, a kindly man from the south named Robin. He looked distraught as he handed his charge a letter. Reading it over the young Stark's eyes grew wider. "I-uh...what should I do?" He looked imploringly at Ser Vaymar Rogers, who took the letter.

Reading it over, the older knight's lips moved silently, "Sunspear...pillaged and burned,"
"The Regent excommunicated..." When he was finished he looked down at the boy. "My lord, only the heir to the North can decide what to do with this." Seeing Roose's unsure look, the captain sat down on the steps, and with a weary smile, said, "that doesn't mean I can't advise you though...let's go to the godswood."

===========================

They talked long into the night, still underneath the soldier pines of Winterfell's godswood though a light snow fell. They discussed justice, honour, and law. "So if one man breaks the law, to uphold another, who is in the wrong?" The knight wrinkled his nose. "Piers Bettley had ignored the laws of his charge's father. He values victory over honour, and so he set loose the Ironborn. It will be his undoing, Callen made it clear that in matters of war there is to be no pillaging, no murder, and that the perpetrators were guilty of a crime on par with treason." He looked in Roose's grey eyes. "So tell me this, my lord. Andry broke the law to uphold justice, to remove a corrupt man. Piers had justice raped, had her defieled, and in so doing he upheld the law. Who is the guilty one here? More importantly, what are you going to do?"

Roose relised his fists were clenched, opening them, he found the crushed red leaves of the weirwood. "I am a Stark, children of the winter." He looked up, "We move south."

[Percy Rivers]

Ravens were sent, and armies were called. When the majority of his lords had arrived, they found the young Lord of Winterfell kneeling at the Heart Tree.

Roose clutched the rich, dark soil in his hands, and smelt the fresh pine and spruce fill him. When he stood, the sound was muffled by the rich, blood red leaves underfoot. Putting on his lord's face he spoke, "You have come at my," Behest? No, that isn't the word I'm looking for. "at my, command. Piers Bettley has broken the laws set forth by Callen Baratheon on the conduct of war. He has allowed the Ironborn to rape, and pillage at will along the Dornish coast." He took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the soldier pines, the smell of fresh snow and rich soil. "We march south, though we be traitors for doing so. We must commit treason to uphold justice."

[dienekes]

Finally Sylas speaks up. "There is treason, justice, and then there is suicide. I take this to be the last." He looks down upon his boy ruler. "Unless you plan to forget all honor when you fight this war we will loose."

[melon]

Ser Nathan Beesbury walks into the hall alone. He wears the Karhold crest on his chest and he is the only man in the hall from Karhold. He waits until the dread lord and the wolf pup are finished.

[dienekes]

OOC: pity I wanted to talk to the Tyrell boy.

[melon]

OOC: Not that stupid to bring a 8 year old boy here.

[Percy Rivers]

OOC: Sorry Tallahar, the Karhold men are there. Just because William is the lord there does not mean that they would not obey a command from Roose. William has always been seen as a Tyrell, and was only in Karhold for a short time. Also, all the Lords of the North are there, in the godswood, so feel free to speak up.

IC: Roose looks up at Sylas, and for the first time a wolfish grin came on his face. "One can be honourable and cunning Lord Bolton."

[dienekes]

Sylas shook his head. "You can't beat unhonorable opponents unless you're prepared to sink even lower than they are. And I have never heard a story in which Piers Bettley and Horas sacrificed a killer blow merely for honor."

[melon]

OOC: First it's Edmure. And second why wouldn't they listen to there Lord before a boy they know even less about.