WILOW-Ch.241: Lord Stark's Apology
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
That evening.
"I owe you an apology, Lord Bolton." Lord Stark said as soon as Domeric met the man in his solar.
"For what exactly, Lord Stark?" Domeric asked as he stood before Lord Stark, hands in his pockets.
Lord Stark had invited him to sit down, but Domeric chose to stand and look down upon Lord Stark, who sat across from him, throughout the conversation.
The reason he had his hands in his pockets was... It wasn't appropriate for someone to stand in such a manner before a liege lord. But Domeric didn't need to show much respect to Lord Stark right now.
After all, if Domeric didn't leave this meeting satisfied, the Boltons and the Starks would become enemies again, and the North would be plunged into a new civil war.
"For… King Robert has betrothed his son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, to my daughter, Sansa Stark." Lord Stark told him, not knowing that he already knew all these things.
"I… told the king that my daughter was already betrothed, but he… insisted rather strongly on this matter." Lord Stark shook his head. "Forgive me, there was nothing I could do."
Domeric's eyes narrowed. He glared at Lord Stark for a long moment before he finally said, "That is rather insulting, Lord Stark. I got your letter before departing from Dreadfort, but I didn't believe it. I didn't believe that honorable Lord Eddard Stark would do something like this. Do remind me why King Robert started the war against the Targaryens."
Lord Stark's face paled, and his eyes became hard. "Are you going to rebel against us? During such a critical time, when we all should come together."
He scoffed at Lord Stark and looked at Godswood from the window. There was a long silence between them. "That would depend on what kind of compensation House Stark is willing to pay for such an insult."
"You can always be betrothed to Arya. She's my younger daughter, but I assure you that I love her just as…"
"No." He said, "Why would I be betrothed to another Stark girl when being betrothed to Sansa led to such a huge insult. No, Lord Stark. There won't be any more betrothals between House Bolton and House Stark. Not after this."
Lord Stark looked pained at that.
He probably understood that if a war took place between House Bolton and House Stark, then it was quite likely that House Stark would lose.
Even if they stayed together to fight the Long Night, the following Summer would definitely start with a civil war.
Domeric took a deep breath and shook his head. "Let's be honest with each other, Lord Stark." He said, "You and I know very well that I never wanted to be betrothed to Sansa, and you never wanted to betroth the girl to me. The only reason you did so was because the growing wealth of House Bolton posed a danger to House Stark. But with an alliance with the Crown, House Stark does not need to fear House Bolton anymore."
"That is not…"
"Let me finish, Lord Stark." Domeric said, "Because of this engagement, I was forced to reject many betrothal proposals before even considering them. I even heard that Tywin Lannister wanted to betroth his granddaughter, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, to me in exchange for my glassmaking techniques and glassmakers. If I had accepted this offer, I might have already forged a bond with the Royal Family."
Domeric paused for a moment to allow Lord Stark to grasp what he had said fully, then continued.
"I may never have wanted to be betrothed to Sansa, but I was forced to accept it by House Stark's insistence. And then I did my part for this betrothal. Otherwise, a civil war was inevitable, and I want to avoid it just as much as House Stark does."
"You are?" Lord Stark asked with suspicion.
"I am." Domeric nodded, "But you must understand that such a thing is a huge insult to House Bolton. And I am not the kind of person who lets others insult my house without any retaliation. Until the Crown and House Stark pay the necessary recompense for this, you may stop counting House Bolton among your allies."
"Lord Bolton…." Lord Stark started. Domeric looked into Lord Stark's eyes and saw guilt and frustration within him.
"I… House Stark has betrayed your trust. Not intentionally, but it has done so nonetheless. I apologize for that. But… the Long Night…"
Lord Stark didn't finish his sentence, but Domeric could tell that Lord Stark wanted House Bolton to do its duties and avoid a civil war, at least until the White Walker threat was over.
"House Bolton has now suspended its participation in the alliance against the White Walkers," Domeric said, and Lord Stark's face paled even more. "And House Bolton will cease supplying the North. Forget about affordable goods. House Bolton has no intention of supporting anyone unless House Stark and the Crown meet my demands as compensation for their insult to House Bolton and me."
"But when the Long Night comes..."
Lord Stark began, but Domeric cut him off.
"Then what do you propose, Lord Stark? Shall the insults hurled against me and my house by House Stark and the Crown go unanswered? Shall I bow my head and look down in shame when I meet any lord from now on?"
"I didn't mean it that way." Lord Stark said.
"But that's what you're saying, Lord Stark. Perhaps you should consider the consequences of your words and actions more carefully from now on. Besides, I still don't think you understand the consequences of this insult. House Bolton is not afraid to withdraw from the alliance against the White Walkers, for if I'm not satisfied when I return to Dreadfort, I will wage war on House Stark with all my might, and when the Long Night comes, House Bolton, not House Stark, will be at the head of the alliance."
"Do you hear what you're saying, Lord Bolton? Are you truly going to rebel? At a time like this? And not just against House Stark, but against the Crown?" Lord Stark said, standing up and shouting.
"Why not? House Stark was trying to prevent war between the two houses by forcing Sansa to be betrothed to me. Now that they've unilaterally broken off the betrothal, it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to consider it a declaration of war."
"It was the King's order." Lord Stark said, as if to justify himself.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.242: We Call These Consequences
Ch.243: Demands
Ch.244: Ygritte's New Admirer