Winterfell

[Percy Rivers]

Roose kept his eyes on the men below, "I met your wife, Padma in King's Landing. Tell me, what abilities can you bring to the North besides the obvious trait of being able to negotiate?"

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

The boy doesn't even greet me, but comes straight to the point. I like that, most boys of his age would be to timid.
"I am very good at negotiations, yes, but i also know a bit about the art of warfare. I am not a reckless man, i prefer to use my brains. As you know from my letters with you and Jack Lordsbane, i am a man that prefers to solve things peacefully before using force. And as you know, since i came with an army to support you, i am a man that will not hesitate to use force, if all the peaceful options are exhausted. And in times of peace, i am an able lord to my people. I have already sold every valuable object of the Dreadfort, using the money to help the smallfolk.
As you know none of the peasants around the Dreadfort have rebelled, i take that as a sign of good leadership. Also, i am a man with a good judgement. Though i executed Hendry for his crimes, i spared his family and allowed them to keep their lands and titles, even though the lands and titles where stolen from the Boltons, and even though Hendry Dustin slaughtered my family. This shows i make decisions without letting my personal feelings get in the way. And furthermore, i am loyal to the north, and wish to help you restore it to it's former glory. The north should be threathening, but not evil. Fearsome, but not cruel. Mighty, but not arrogant."
Just like that wolf of yours, boy.
"I will do what i can to help the north, that is my best trait."
Though i'm pretty good at flaying people to.
"I can be a good ally during times of war, and a good lord during times of peace."

[Percy Rivers]

"Good, I want you and your men down on the field of battle on the morrow's light. Then we meet for a war council." Roose turned his grey eyes to look at Maleagant. "Do you have any questions?"

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

Yes, how many Starks does it take to catch a cold?
Maleagant smiled, but dared not say this jest out loud.
"Questions, no," he said, "they can be answered tomorrow. There is just some unfinished buiseness between us, remember?"
He snapped his fingers, and Berenger and Beringar drew their swords. The young Stark went for his own blade, but stopped as both guards threw the swords down before his feet.
"I have no sword of my own," Maleagant said, "but these two swords have guarded my life, always."
He went to Roose Stark, between the two swords, went to one knee and bowed before him.
"To Winterfell i pledge the faith of the Dreadfort. Hearth and heart and harvest i yield up to you, my lord. My swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to the weak, help the helpless, give justice to all, and i shall never fail you. I swear it by earth and water, by bronze and iron, by ice and fire." And i swear it by bones, blood and death flesh. Now hurry damnit, my knees are cramping up.

[Percy Rivers]

"Good, now lets get down there." Roose says, going down into the training yard and mounting up. A horn is blown and the army moves out.

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

A large feast is organized at Winterfell after the battle.

[barker520]

Three hundred men, dressed in furs and carrying stone weapons, arrive at Winterfell, riding huge shaggy horned beasts that the Skagosi called mirrikai. In the front, three men rode, followed by three women. One of the men were a stone crown with a blue diamond in the middle, while the other two were plain stone crowns. The women were lightly clad, and were all beautiful. Perhaps the most beautiful, however, was the one in the middle. Short and slim, but very curvy, she had jet black hair and bright blue eyes. Her hips swayed provocatively, and her lips were thick and suggestive.

One of the men in the lead dismounted and blew a weirwood war horn to announce their approach. A small girl appeared from out behind one of the princesses, and clutched Mag's arm as he blew his horn. He picked her up and sat her on his shoulders as they continued to head towards Winterfell.

[Percy Rivers]

Inside the Great Hall Roose stood, lords and ladies gathered on either side of him. "Today we commemerate a great victory for northern order and law. But tonight we commemerate our dead, on both sides." Raising his goblet he said. "Hail the valiant dead!"

The gathered shouted out as one. "Hail!"

Outside Winterfell where the army was gathering to feast many more toasts were made to the dead that cold northern night.

[Percy Rivers]

Just then a horn was heard in the distance, and a guard came rushing in. "M'lord, a group of people arriving from Skagos!"

[Fel]

Bardan Cassel had been on sentry duty the night of the feast. When he heard the horn blowing, and saw the queer, wildling dress of those approaching, he rode back to Winterfell.

He came into the Great Hall and walked briskly up to the high chair to whisper in Lord Stark's ears about the men who had arrived.

[barker520]

Mag Stane, with his father's leave, addressed the guards at the wall. Speaking in his halting common tongue, he said, "Greetings, northman. I have brought Lord Stark his beautiful bride."

[Percy Rivers]

The guards looked down on them, all around the area tents were filled with the remanants of Roose's army, feasting and drinking. The one guard smiled. "Let's have a look-see."

[Percy Rivers]

Roose leaned over to Cassel and whispered in his ear. "How many?"

[barker520]

Mag frowned. "I am Mag Stane, guard man. Open your gates so we may enter and feast." The Skagosi sat on their mirrikai, looking around in wonder at the many tents and men feasting outside the gates. They also held in awe the vast castle of Winterfell.

[Percy Rivers]

"The drawbridge is open Stane." The guard said, pointing to the open gate leading through the double-walls of Winterfell.

[barker520]

Gariss grumbled, angry at their greeting, and Ryk voiced his agreements. The ranks of Skagosi squinted their eyes in suspicion of the northerners, but Mag shrugged and led them inside the castle wall's nevertheless.