Chapter Fifty Two: The Wild Wolf

                                    

                                          


                          
"The Umber's are a famously loyal house." said Ramsay sitting at a table in the hall with Lord Karstark at his left, Aris to his right and Wyllim beside her. Before the table stood Lord Umber. 
                          
 "Famously loyal to the Starks." grumbled Lord Karstark and Aris could feel his burning gaze. 
                          
 "And you, Lord Karstark?" asked Lord Umber. "Your people share blood with the Starks, don't they? But here we are. Times change."
                          
 "When my father became Warden of The North, your house refused to pledge their banners." stated Ramsay. 
                          
"That's because your father was a cunt." 
                          
 Ramsay deeply sighed internally, his lips twitching, "My beloved father, The Warden..." 
                          
 "Your father was a cunt." repeated Lord Umber. "And that's why you killed him. I might have done the same to my father if he hadn't done me the favour of dying on his own."
                          
 Aris glanced sideways at Ramsay and refrained a smile, she wondered how Ramsay would talk his way out of this. Lord Umber did tell it like it was and never feared the consequences of his words. 
                          
"My father was poisoned by our enemies." Ramsay lied smoothly. 
                          
 "Hm." hummed Lord Umber refusing to believe a word Ramsay said. 
                          
 "Why have you come to Winterfell, Lord Umber?" 
                          
 "The bastard Jon Snow led an army of Wildlings past The Wall. We're farther North than any of you fuckers. Wildlings come down, we always have to fight them first. I like fighting Wildlings, been doing it all me life. But there are too many of them for us to beat back alone."
                          
 "So now you've come seeking help?" 
                          
 "We need to help each other. The colder it gets the farther south those fuckers will roam. Won't take 'em long to get here."
                          
 "You think a hoard of Wildlings can take Winterfell?" spat Lord Karstark amused.
                          
 "If they get Jon Snow leading them, maybe. He knows this place better than we ever will." replied Lord Umber. 
                          
"He's right, My Lord." spoke Wyllim. "Whether Jon be a bastard or not."
                          
 Ramsay hummed curiously and said, "Pledge your banners to house Bolton. Swear loyalty to me as Warden of The North and we will fight together to destroy the bastard and all his Wildlings friends."
                          
"I'm not kissing your fuckin' hand." grumbled Lord Umber. 
                          
 "Traditionally a banner man kneels for his Lord."
                          
 "Not doing that either."
                          
 "Why would I trust a man who won't honour tradition?"
                          
Lord Umber came forward to place his hands on the table, "Your father honoured tradition. Knelt for Robb Stark, called him King of The North." and Lord Umber's gaze vaguely fell over Aris. "Was Robb Stark right to trust your father?"
                          
 "Then it appears we're at a bit of an impasse."
                          
 "Fuck kneelin' and fuck oaths. I've got a gift for you." Lord Umber stepped away from the table and nodded to a man standing by the door who motioned for others. 
                          
 "A girl I hope." said Ramsay. "We recently lost one." 
                          
 "A girl, aye." chuckled Lord Umber as two men dragged in two figures with sacks over their heads. "A wild one." and the sack was removed from the wild girls head and revealed it to be Osha. Aris leant forward and her mouth fell open at the familiar sight of Osha, the same Wilding Theon and Robb captured.