Chapter 267: Ygritte's Longing
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
The next day.
Domeric stood on the second floor of the stone building and watched the courtyard bustling with life with a faint smile.
Jon and Robb were once again training with Varko, desperately trying to score just one hit on the man who was probably the greatest swordsman in the world after getting his body enhancements.
They had not succeeded in hitting him even once, which must be a little embarrassing and disheartening for them. After all, they had been training with swords since they were 8 years old. So, the fact that they could not even touch Varko with their swords must rankle them.
On the other side of the courtyard, Ser Rodrik Cassel was talking with one of his men—the captain of the 20 men he had brought with him.
His enhanced senses and a bit of magic allowed him to hear all the conversations going on in the courtyard.
It seems that the fact that no Bolton men died in yesterday's chaos, and they even protected the Stark men while achieving this, did not go unnoticed, and Ser Rodrik Cassel now wanted to know what kind of training his men went through to earn the right to wear magical armor and carry an enchanted weapon.
The captain was telling him the bare bones of their training, and Ser Rodrik almost seemed overwhelmed with shock.
Domeric turned his head and looked at the other corner of the courtyard where Arya had once again attached herself to Ygritte and was training in archery with his lover, who seemed all too happy to share her craft.
It still surprised him that Ygritte was so good with children.
In fact, he had come to find that almost all the Free Folk he brought from up North were good with children. They took no nonsense from the kids and taught them the difference between right and wrong at a very early age in their lives.
He often found himself comparing the Free Folk parents to his aunt Petunia and uncle Dursley, and found that he would have preferred a life with the Free Folk as his guardians.
Even Karsi, who was burdened with her duties as a General and a spokesperson for the Free Folk in his area, found time for her children.
Ygritte was also starting to send him longing glances ever since she saw Karsi's swollen belly, and the longing glances had only become more desperate since they came to Winterfell.
His argument that she was only 18 years old, and he was only 17, did not seem to matter to her.
Then again, there were many examples in the world where girls married at 13 years of age and had children of their own at 14.
There was a very good reason why so many girls died in childbirth in this world. At that age, their hips were not fully developed, and their bodies had not grown to their full extent, which leads to more internal injuries during childbirth, which leads to blood loss and then death.
But Domeric and Ygritte... The biggest reason Domeric hadn't married Ygritte until now was the fact that his betrothal to Sansa was still ongoing. And without the King's intervention, Domeric would have had no way to break it off peacefully.
Lord Stark would have taken this as a grave insult, and the relationship between the two Houses would have been irreparably strained. The situation could have quickly escalated into a civil war.
Even if Lord Stark didn't want this, the Lords around him, driven by their own interests and coveting the riches of the Bolton Lands, would have pressured him into this. And Lord Stark would likely have been forced to respond to their call.
Therefore, Domeric was biding his time. When Domeric and House Bolton's power reached a point where they would strike fear into the entire North or even Westeros, no one would be able to declare war on him, and they would even grovel at Domeric's feet to prevent him from starting a war.
And frankly, that day wasn't far off. Once Domeric completed the Dragonlord Ritual and began hatching dragon eggs, he would have a Dragon Unit within a few years.
But the King's intervention, breaking off the engagement between Sansa and Domeric, had thwarted all of Domeric's plans with Ygritte.
Domeric could now marry Ygritte tomorrow if he so desired. The lords in the north might criticize Ygritte for not being from a noble house, especially since many of them were now considering betrothing their daughters or granddaughters to Domeric. But he cared little for their opinions or what they thought of him.
However, it would still be wise for Domeric to postpone his wedding to Ygritte. If Domeric married someone else so soon after his betrothal to Sansa was broken off, it would have created a flood of rumors.
But that didn't mean he couldn't start preparations. Ygritte deserved the best, and Domeric would do everything in his power to give her that.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps coming toward him.
He turned and was surprised to find that it was Robb and Jon who had suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Varko, who was now locked in mock combat with Raksa.
A good-sized crowd was gathering to watch the mock combat between the Greatest Swordsman of the Seven Kingdoms and Raksa the Giantess, who was already gaining a legend of her own after the slaughter yesterday.
"Robb. Jon." Domeric said in greeting before he looked down at the two pups that had followed them up here. Greywind and Snowstorm.
Their adult direwolves, Midnight and Snowric, were resting at a corner in the courtyard at the moment.
"Lord Bolton." Robb said, his face was serious, "You talked with the King yesterday."
"I did." He nodded.
"Father is not telling us anything about the meeting," Jon said with some hesitation. "We were… wondering if you would share some details with us."
He looked at both the boys, who were only two years younger than him, and nodded. However, they would soon turn 16, which would make them adults in these lands.
"The King believed us after seeing the Ice Sword with his own eyes." He said, "He has already removed any taxes from the North till the upcoming Summer and has given us many other benefits that would strengthen the North and give us a decent advantage in the Long Night. But…"
"But?" Robb asked.
"But they won't be sending any men. Nor any resources."
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.268: Revealing Some Truths
Ch.269: Robb's Request
Ch.270: Lord Stark's Insidious Plan