Chapter 249: The King Yields
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
Lord Stark climbed down from his horse and took a look at the situation before his eyes fell on some of the injured Stark men and his own son, who was covered in someone else's blood and was sporting a cut on his left cheek.
"Robb. What happened here?"
Robb looked a little surprised at becoming the center of attention all of a sudden, but bore it with grace and moved forward, his direwolf Midnight trailing behind him.
"Father," Robb said. "Jon and I were sparring against Varko when Lord Bolton came running out of that corridor. A few seconds later, Ser Jamie came roaring out and tried to attack Lord Bolton. Varko came in between and captured Ser Jamie."
Robb then pointed at the corpses of Red Cloaks lying on the floor in two pieces. "The Red Cloaks asked Lord Bolton to release Ser Jamie. Lord Bolton refused, and the Red Cloaks attacked. A fight ensued and went on until his grace came and stopped it from escalating."
By this point, just about everyone in the castle had come out and was looking at the scene with confusion and fear.
Even Lady Stark had come out to see what was happening and was now consoling a crying Arya and a puking Sansa.
Lord Stark heard Robb's side of the story and nodded. "Do you have anything to add, Lord Bolton? Ser Jamie?"
"Well… I antagonized Ser Jamie. But he was the one to confront me. So, I won't take the blame for that. Also, Ser Jaime needs to behave more in accordance with noble etiquette. Even though he is a Kingsguard, he has no right to insult a Great Lord."
Lord Stark nodded and then turned to Varko. "Varko. Release Ser Jamie."
Varko looked at Domeric, and Domeric mulled his choices in his head and then nodded. If he released Lannister ponce now and the Red Cloaks attack once again, then Lord Stark would definitely fight on his side.
Varko removed his boot from Ser Jamie's back, helped him up, and dropped him out of the circle of Bolton men that still surrounded him.
Jamie wiped the dirt from his face, looking embarrassed as the Queen watched him for any injuries.
"You." The King shouted at the Red Cloaks. "Drop your swords and give them to the Stark men."
The Red Cloaks reluctantly gave their swords to the Stark men, who looked like they had no idea what to do with them, before Jon came forward, covered in blood, and gave them some orders himself.
"You as well." King Robert said to Domeric's men, who then looked at Domeric.
Domeric thought about it and then shook his head. "That will not be necessary. I can see that we're not welcome here. We'll be departing now."
"Lord Bolton." Lord Stark said. "The sword. The one that you found North of the Wall."
"I have already given you my answer on this matter, Lord Stark. And now, after being attacked while I was under the guest's right within the confines of Winterfell, I'm beginning to suspect that this wasn't a truly random event." Domeric said.
"That is simply not true. House Stark would never do anything to violate the guest's right, which would tarnish his honor," said Lord Stark seriously.
"If we were in the past, I might believe that, but by breaking my betrothal to Sansa, you've broken your promise to me once, Lord Stark. It wouldn't be strange to do it a second time. Because my death would be quite advantageous to you, wouldn't it?" Domeric said in a mocking tone.
"I... never..." Lord Stark was searching for words when the King could stand it no longer and intervened.
"I am the one who broke off your betrothal to Sansa, Bolton, and ordered my son to be betrothed to her. Ned had nothing to do with it. Besides, it was Jamie Lannister who attacked you. Not one of the Stark men. You can't blame Ned for that."
"That doesn't change the fact that Lord Stark broke his promise to me and that I was attacked at Winterfell, your grace," Domeric said, looking at Lord Stark, and after a moment's pause, turning towards the King, he continued.
"But your grace is right. It was your grace who broke my betrothal to Sansa, and it was your grace's Kingsguard who attacked me. Perhaps it is your grace who wants me dead. I wonder if paying compensation for an unfairly broken betrothal has become too much for the Crown, and they are trying to eliminate me."
"Nonsense. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need Jamie Lannister, Bolton. Besides, your demands are too excessive," said the King in a loud voice.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps you wished to place the blame for my death on someone else. But do you find my demands excessive? Please tell me, your grace, on what exact grounds did you break off the betrothal between Sansa and me, a mutual decision of the two Great Houses?" Domeric asked loud enough for all gathered to hear.
The King looked at Domeric for a moment without answering, then opened his mouth and spoke. "Isn't the King's wish reason enough?"
"You say the King's wish, your grace. Please tell me, when Prince Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna Stark, wasn't the prince's wish enough for you? Are you any different from Prince Rhaegar now, your grace?" said Domeric, and he could tell from the King's narrowing pupils that his words had deeply affected him.
"I am nothing like Rhaegar. Don't you dare compare me to him." This time, the King was shouting.
Domeric took a few steps toward the King. The Kingsguards put their hands on their swords, but Domeric ignored them, looked the King in the eye, and spoke.
"Put yourself in my shoes, your grace. What would you do if someone stole your betrothed? But you've already lived through what I did, didn't you, your grace? And in response, you started a rebellion against the crown. Now, do my demands still seem outrageous or excessive to you, your grace?" Domeric said in a voice that was emotionless but audible to everyone.
The King looked into Domeric's eyes for a moment and saw a fire there he hadn't seen in a long time.
A fire that had once been in his own eyes, a fire that had engulfed the seven kingdoms in flames.
Was he truly turning into someone like Rhaegar? Robert questioned himself for a moment, and the answer he received did not please him at all.
Then, after a moment of decisiveness, he spoke. "Fine. I will accept all your demands in exchange for what I have done."
Then the King turned to Lord Stark and said, "Ned, give me the parchment that Lord Bolton delivered to you."
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.250: Bet of the Century
Ch.251: Examining the Ice Sword
Ch.252: What Do You Want from Me?