Chapter 11: Return to Dreadfort part 2

(1,200 words)

- MC POV -

- Dreadfort - The North - Westeros - 275 AD -

In addition to my semi-modern bow, which I planned to imbue in the future with magic and Valyrian Steel, I had managed to create my philosopher's stone! Which, in sacrificial form, I could absorb people's life force, and that life force use to do blood, shadow or necromancy magic. Darker magics, that if seen in depth, need vitality to be used. But that is no longer my case, because with this stone that I wear as a necklace, I can use that vitality. Not that I can use such complex magic now, though.

It feels a bit of a waste to use so much time just for that stone, but with its long-term importance, it's definitely worth it. Especially if it's my goal to seek immortality.

"Lord Percival! It's his father!" my unnamed "trusted" servant shouted at me. Silver was at his side, and he had Copper on the other side. Copper was Sandor Clegane by the way.

"Lisa, I want you to activate Order 66" I said, and the girl nodded.

Not that it's the most original, but it's what I came up with, although it has nothing to do with the original order. The Order 66 consisted in that Lisa would warn my "loyal" men to be ready to leave, while also storing all my writings in a special bag. Roose Bolton was now twenty years old, he had a sharp mind but he lacked experience in political plots. So did I, but my intelligence was superior. Besides, with all the fiction I've seen in my life I can get a good idea of when certain things happen.

Roose wasn't capable enough to infiltrate one of his men into my personal guards. He was good but not that good, at least at this age, because I have no doubt he would improve in the future. After all, he was the one who finally defeated the Starks, taking the Warden of the North from them. That's a very brave thing to do. All for Ramsey to come along and fail at everything his father accomplished, though.

If only the idiot had taken a more discreet approach with Sansa, Sansa wouldn't have gone out of her way to escape. Or if he had killed Theon instead of toying with him, he would have eliminated unforeseen variables. But her sadism played a trick on her. Sansa arrived with support from The Vale, and Theon ended up betraying him.

"Father," I said to my emotionless face. In front of me stood my father with a fair complexion and his hair half fallen out. I don't know if it's cancer or that Roose was slowly enveloping him, though I doubt the latter. But the thing is, he would probably die today.

"Percival..." he said quietly with sad eyes. "Can you leave us alone?" he said to those present.

"But..." interjected Maester Bawin, and Roose looked on with annoyance, but also with deep sadness.

"It is an order. Your Lord's last order" he added, and they all heeded him.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Percival... The truth is, I don't know if you are my son, or just your mother's son. And I know that, even if I don't want to think it, you don't feel true appreciation for me" he told me, and my eyes showed a tone of surprise. I didn't expect this from an envious old Stark. I underestimated him. "But well, that doesn't matter now. I just want to ask you... Please put yourself ahead of the Starks, to bring the Boltons back to glory, even if it's not by taking lordship" he said to me as he clenched his fist, to which I sighed. I could talk to him a little perhaps.

"Father... I have no interest in The Nort, and I doubt I will usurp the Stark position" I said, and his eyes showed sadness. "But what I am going to get is The Iron Throne" I said, and now his eyes widened like saucers. If anyone else said it they would be labeled crazy, but my father knew me. Everything I had set out to do I had accomplished, and he didn't joke about these things.

The Iron Throne wasn't my main goal, but I wouldn't complain about achieving it either. After all, in this world the higher your rank in the hierarchy, the less likely you are to die. Kings are only killed by wars and poison. If I am strong and steadfast enough, war is not an option, and poison cannot kill me.

I am not those idiots like Daenerys who want to be king to take the kingdom to new heights, who although they have Machiavellian tendencies, are still good at heart. Sacrificing their morals and conscience for the kingdom. Someone like Varys, branded as a traitor, when he has always been loyal to the kingdom.

I am not like that, I only want it for my personal good, not even for the good of my house like Tywin Lannister, or because I think I am worthy just for being born like Joffrey Baratheon or Cersei Lannister. No, it's not like that at all. It's simply because that's power, and power is good as long as you want to live.

"Thank you..." was the last thing he said before closing his eyes. And with that, I opened the door to find Bawin and Roose, with whom I nodded, notifying them of our father's death.

Roose lowered his head a little, and you could see sadness in their faces but not guilt. So it had not been him. He simply died of natural causes as he probably did in the original series. Roose Bolton's father is not even mentioned. Although now Lord Bolton, Lord of Dreadfort and some other title I forget.

What a troubled world...

"What are you going to do now?" Roose asked me. He seems to have been a bit sensitized by father's death, and wants to see if he can settle things without bloodshed.

He knows I'm better than him at everything but hand-to-hand combat. But I am more than superior in what is administration. I'm too big a threat to him.

"I'm going on a trip, I talked to father about that a while ago, but I was waiting for his passing" I told him, and he nodded with a tone of joy and relief in his eyes.

"Where to?" he asked again after recovering from my first answer.

"That's not clear to me, but out of The North. The Reach perhaps, or Crownlands to then get to Essos, who knows. But most likely I won't go back" I said.

"I understand... It's a shame this has to happen, but that's the way it has to be. Although remember that you are my younger brother, and if you need help with anything, you can always contact me" he told me with a smile that I could tell was sincere, so I just nodded and retreated from the area. Where everyone was waiting for me.

They were six paid and "loyal" soldiers, an expelled Maester as healer, Lisa the maid, and Silver along with Copper. Silver was the most skilled and loyal warrior I had available, but he was still too young. He was not the monster he would be in the future.