7th Month of 299 A.C. White Harbour
Lady Wynafryd Stark nee Manderly
The months had passed since she and her son and Rickon had fled Winterfell, fleeing for their lives from ghosts she did not understand. Lady Catelyn was dead, Lord Benjen was dead, and Winterfell had fallen, and she could not help but blame herself. Perhaps if she had paid more attention to some of the subtler signs during her time in Winterfell, she might have been able to better prepare for when the clash came, for now that she thought of it, it was always obvious that the clash was going to come. The more she thought about it, the more Wynafryd found herself wondering if Robb had known, and then she would think to herself, that of course he would have known, he was the heir to Winterfell, and then its lord, that he had not told her, both angered her and relieved her. She did not think she would have believed him until she had seen it for herself. Her son was safe, as was Rickon, and Torrhen Stark, Lord Benjen's oldest son and now Lord of Barrowton and Lord of the Rills, was rallying men, they were all rallying men though there were those who were siding with the false men within Winterfell.
Throughout all of this, her grandsire sat and planned, she knew that Lord Wyman was not inactive, but the lack of actual activity from their forces was frustrating, she wanted to ask why, so many times she found herself about to ask, but then she'd kept a check on herself and waited instead. It seemed that her waiting was about to pay off, her grandfather had summoned her to his solar within the Merman's keep and as she sat there in front of him, she could see how unwell he was, still he held himself firmly. His voice was calm when he spoke. "You want to know why I have not sent forces to face the false Starks within Winterfell do you not Wynafryd?" Not trusting herself to speak, Wynafryd merely nods. Her grandfather sighs. "If only it were simple as the young would have it. There is more that goes into dealing with the false Starks than you might think, this is not the first time they have tried to do this, but it is the first time they have succeeded. There is all kinds of uncertainty about what to do now."
"What uncertainty could there be?" Wynafryd asks then. "They are not the rightful rulers of Winterfell and have not been for some time. They do not deserve to sit in Winterfell."
Her grandfather looks at her with a pained expression. "Ah but you see, technically they are. They descend from the elder line of Cregan Stark, and their blood is quite pure. As far as Stark blood goes. And when the dragons were removed from the throne, their writs were declared invalid by some accounts. They have a good claim on Winterfell, a very good one. Why do you think they were driven into the ground?"
"But the north is for King Aegon, not for the Baratheons, whatever writs they overturned do not apply!" Wynafryd protests.
Her grandfather sighs once more. "You are not understanding my point Wynafryd. Yes, the north is for King Aegon, but there are houses within the north that never quite agreed with Lord Eddard's policy on things, and there are those who did not quite agree with Lord Rickard when he arranged a southern marriage for his eldest son and heir. And now that the false Starks are within Winterfell, with their impeccable northern nature, well, there are those amongst my fellow lords who would side with them."
What her grandfather is trying to get across to her dawns on her then. "The Boltons, the Karstarks, the Ryders, the Greenwoods and those like them. Are you saying that they are planning something?"
Her grandfather nods. "Exactly. And whilst the threat of the Ironborn might have receded with the events on Pyke, I do not think the northmen who think with their swords are like to forget that it was you and not one of their daughters who was chosen for Lord Robb's wife."
Wynafryd groans then, she knew that would've been an old wound, but she did not think that people could be so petty. "So because of that and because of other smart decisions the Starks who descend from Beron Stark have made, the north is rocking on its axis? That does not make any sense to me. Surely they should be relieved they aren't being destroyed right now by winter, or by the fighting within the south, not plotting for someone who has not done anything for the betterment of the north."
"If everything were that simple Wynafryd, then Lady Catelyn would still be alive, as would Lord Benjen. But they are not and the world is not. You are Lady of Winterfell and a mother now, it is time you saw things clearly. I might not be able to command an army anymore, but I know how to plan for one, and I know how to out think those false Starks." Lord Wyman replies.
Wynafryd leans forward intrigued. "And how do you propose on doing that grandfather?"
Her grandfather claps his hands, and a door opens, two guardsmen walk in carrying a brown cloth bag which looks like it has something in it. Wynafryd stares at it and then asks. "Is that what I think it is?"
Her grandfather nods. "Yes, the head of our Maester in return for a promise of being left alone. These false Starks are not as smart as they think they are. They will leave us alone if we send them the head of a Lannister, for it was the Lannisters who were the ones who brought them low in the first instance."
That surprises Wynafryd. "What do you mean by that? I thought that Edric Stark was removed from the line of succession due to his rebellion against his brother Jonnel?"
Lord Wyman nods. "Aye is part of the reason, but it is not the whole reason. As I am sure you know, Edric Stark then fought for the Black Dragon, but he was not so direct as some were, he used many excuses and aliases to fight for the Black Dragon, eventually it was Damon Lannister, the Grey Lion who outed him and exposed him to the crown. The false Starks have despised the Lannisters since then, and now that the King is working with them, why it is the one thing they want more than Winterfell."
Wynafryd understands then. "So you're saying that using this would be a diversion, whilst the main plan is put into motion?"
"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. And with the way things are progressing within the south, this war should be done before the year is over." Her grandfather says.
Her interest piqued by word of the south, she asks. "And what exactly is happening within the south grandfather?"
"King Aegon has defeated a host commanded by Lord Bryce Caron and is advancing on King's Landing. It seems that Lord Robb defeated a host commanded by Lord Rowan as well, a fight that occurred slightly after the fight with Caron's host." Lord Wyman reports. "Lord Robb fought valiantly and has earned himself much praise."
Wynafryd leans back in her chair, relieved. "That is good, how are father and uncle Wendel getting along?"
"Very well, they are getting along very well." Her grandfather replies simply, and Wynafryd is not sure what that means, or whether there is supposed to even be another meaning to it. After a moment's silence, her grandfather speaks once more. "There is something more that we need to discuss Wynafryd."
"Oh? And what might that be?" she asks.
"Your sister Wylla." Her grandfather says. "She has approached me asking me how I would feel about a marriage between her and Theon Greyjoy."
Wynafryd is not surprised by this, she has seen how the two of them looked at one another and how they reacted to one another's presence, she thinks it might be a good match, but something about her grandfather's posture, suggests otherwise. "You do not approve?" she ventures.
Her grandfather is silent for a moment, seemingly considering her question, eventually he replies. "I think that in normal circumstances it would be a good match, and would help to foster trade between our two Kingdoms. However, there are whispers coming from Pyke that suggest something is changing there, and I am not sure whether Theon Greyjoy is the right man at this point in time."
That confuses Wynafryd. "Not the right man for what? Wylla? Or to rule the Islands?"
"Both." Her grandfather states simply, at her quizzical expression he elaborates. "I am not sure of what exactly is happening within the Iron Islands, but I do know enough to make me question the wisdom in getting to close to any of the Greyjoys. Balon Greyjoy might have decided against attacking the north, but that does not mean the Iron Islands are any less of a threat."
"But a threat of what? What is happening there? What have you heard?" Wynafryd asks in what Wylla calls her Lady of the Castle voice.
She sees her grandfather flinch slightly at her tone, though his mouth is quirked into a smirk. "From what my sources have told me, it seems that Balon Greyjoy was considering invading the north, but after speaking with Aeron Damphair, decided against doing so. The why has not been made clear, but it seems that there might have been something to do with their brother Euron, and possible sightings of him within their islands and their waters. As such it seems that Balon Greyjoy is using all the resources that his islands possess to hunt down his brother and nothing else. Whilst civil war would be a good time to install a puppet there, I do not want your sister trapped in the fighting that might ensue." Her grandfather responds.
Wynafryd thinks about this for a moment, and she can see the sense in what her grandfather is saying, there are some things that should not be messed with, foremost amongst them fate, and so she voices her agreement. "I agree, though I do not think that it would hurt to give Wylla some reassurance, I know she does like Theon quite a bit."
Her grandfather smiles at that. "Of course." A moment of silence then he speaks once more. "As Lady of Winterfell, I do think that the time is right for you to hear of word from the Wall." Wynafryd leans forward intently, waiting for her grandfather to go on, it seems he does so with a heavy heart. "The wildlings are attacking the wall in ever greater numbers, it seems the Night's Watch cannot withhold them from crossing for much longer. That they have chosen a Lord Commander who seems to be incompetent and without the support of much of his order is not a good thing."
Her heart hammers then, wildlings coming south? That can't be good. "Who did they chose?" she asks.
"Someone named Ser Edd Tollet, a man who was apparently chosen as a candidate because neither Bowen Marsh nor Allister Thorne would back down and their voters continued to be split. Needless to say it appears Tollet is merely a puppet for one faction or another." Her grandfather replies, disgust in his voice.
"Can the Umbers not do something about this?" she asks.
Her grandfather shakes his head. "They are trying to protect their own lands, and will not move northwards to the wall unless things become completely dire. And the only person who can tell them that is Lord Stark."
Seeing the issue, Wynafryd replies. "And the Lord Stark in Winterfell is not the one they would answer to." Her grandfather nods and she says. "We need to move as soon as possible, there can be no delay."