Game of Thrones: The Stark Shard

Preparing the logistics for executing the Boltons and the guards involved in their crimes was complicated. Lord Umber, given his experience with encounters with wildlings, kept a close watch on this. 

Meanwhile, I kept busy dealing with all the complaints from the smallfolk living in the village near the castle. Not everyone had good things to say, and some tried to shift blame onto innocent guards.

Thank the Old Gods that after setting an example with a couple of peasants, the rest dared not attempt to deceive me.

"Lord Robb, the courtyard is ready for the execution," Lord Karstark informed me, staying alert for any changes in the situation and passing on important messages.

"Understood, Lord Karstark. Let's get this over with," I replied with a smile that barely concealed my weariness.

The courtyard.

"We are gathered here for the execution of Roose and Ramsay Bolton and the guards involved in their crimes. The crimes of the Boltons include treason against the North and attempting to sell crucial information to Southern lords. In addition, Ramsay Snow is accused of hunting humans for sport. This crime cannot be forgiven for the sake of peace in the realm," I addressed the gathered people, motioning for some guards to bring the Boltons before me.

"Do you have anything to say, Roose Bolton?" I asked as I prepared my sword.

"Just kill me, demon. Ever since you visited my castle, I've only wanted to die. I don't know what you did to me, but I know it's your fault. End this," Roose Bolton said with an air of resignation.

"I did nothing to you. Perhaps the gods noticed your crimes and decided to act against you," I told him.

Raising my sword as high as possible, I aimed for his neck and let gravity and weight do the work. As the sword fell, the only sound that echoed was the thud of Roose Bolton's head hitting the ground and rolling a little.

"Bring Ramsay Snow before me, chained, please," I requested a guard from House Umber.

"Ramsay Snow, you are accused of committing human hunts, murder, rape, and continuing your family's forbidden practices," I told Ramsay sternly.

"Do you have anything to say?" I asked.

"My victims should be grateful. Their lives meant nothing until I gave them meaning," Ramsay laughed, his sadism overriding the depression influenced by my power. "They would be nobody without me!" He finished shouting.

Looking around me, I noticed the frowns on the faces of those present, from the peasants to the lords. Without a doubt, they felt disgusted by Ramsay's behavior.

Making a decision, I continued, "Last night, I had a dream that I didn't understand," I began, addressing those with me. "I dreamed of a being of great evil suffering for its sins before the gods, and that being was left in chains while the gods delivered their punishment in a forest," I continued.

"I didn't know what it meant, but since I was young, I've known that dreams can sometimes be important when used as a guide. And you, Ramsay Snow, are a being filled with evil," I said seriously.

Seeing that some people looked at me strangely, I ignored them and continued.

"Take him to the forest and leave him there. Let's see if my dreams mean something, and if not, they don't call me the Ghost of the North for nothing; I'll find him," I directed to some guards.

"Are you sure about this, Lord Robb?" Lord Umber asked me.

"Yes, Lord Umber. Trust me, as you trusted your son's life in my hands," I replied.

"Hah, this is what caught me? A boy who thinks he's Daenys the Dreamer?" Ramsay scoffed as he was lifted by two guards.

"If it amuses you so much, I'm sure you won't hesitate to try it," I said.

"Let's head to the edge of the forest. Once this is over, we'll continue with the court," I addressed the rest of the observers.

As a group, we approached the forest slowly while Ramsay continued to mock the punishment, saying how he would emerge unscathed, that the Old Gods didn't care about his crimes, and so on.

When we reached the forest's edge, I ordered the guards to release Ramsay.

"Escape, Ramsay, try to get out the other side. If nothing happens to you, I'll start hunting you like you enjoy in one hour," I addressed Ramsay Snow, who had a disturbing smile.

"I'll get revenge on all of you; one by one, I'll slit your throats and feed you to my dogs," Ramsay promised as he took his first steps into the darkness of the forest.

Five minutes passed with no sound, and most observers seemed bored with the wait, giving up due to the lack of action from the gods. Suddenly, a chilling scream cut through the air, coming from the forest. The people present looked at each other.

"Help, please, someone help me," Ramsay Bolton's desperate voice sounded.

The fallen leaves of the trees rustled, and the breaking of branches indicated someone was running with all their might. The screams became more frantic, interspersed with groans and gasps of desperation and physical effort.

Thanks to Ramsay's depression, he had not eaten well or exercised since visiting the castle a month earlier, so his physique was worn down, and he couldn't escape quickly.

"No! Please, no," panic was heard in his voice, "Please, stay away, don't do this to me," he continued shouting.

An elderly woman brought her hands to her mouth, tears of excitement in her eyes. "The Old Gods heard us," she whispered. "They sent a message to Lord Robb through his dreams," she exclaimed a little louder.

Most observers looked at each other, murmuring as they turned their gaze to me. I had to hide my smile about a plan coming to fruition.

Then, a strange sound rose above the screams: a deafening buzz, filling the air with a palpable vibration that could be heard from within the forest. The vibration was so strong that it made everyone's hair stand on end, even the great veteran warriors of the rebellion; no one had ever heard such a terrifying sound.

"What in the seven hells is that?" Lord Umber exclaimed, trying to make himself heard above the noise.

Another scream echoed, this time closer. The intensity of his terror resonated in the hearts of everyone who heard it. No one moved, paralyzed by fear of what was happening inside the forest.

The branches shook violently, and a loud snap, like a tree falling, filled the air. The buzzing became even more intense, as if whatever was inside the forest was preparing to come out.

The guards and warriors drew their swords, ready to protect the rest of the smallfolk, showing fear and their backbone in these difficult moments, until suddenly, complete silence fell over the forest and its surroundings, broken only by Ramsay's last gasp.

The observers remained at the forest's edge, their eyes fixed on the entrance, waiting for any terror to attack them or an explanation.

"What the hell happened, Lord Robb?" Lord Karstark asked.

"I don't know, my lord, but it seems the gods delivered divine justice to Ramsay Snow," I said seriously.

Lord Karstark gave me a look that indicated he didn't believe me but dropped the topic.

"Does anyone want to go fetch Ramsay's body?" I asked loudly with a laugh.

No one responded, clearly traumatized by the so-called divine punishment.

"Jon, come with me to fetch Ramsay's body, and someone bring me a rope. I don't know what happened to him, but I don't think I want to touch him after all that," I told Jon and the rest of the guards.

Approaching the forest, Jon whispered to me, "Do you know what happened here?"

"Wait until we return to Winterfell, brother, I'll tell you the truth there," I said.

As we walked towards where Ramsay's body lay, we noticed a predominant stench in the area. Ramsay's body was partially consumed, with wounds from small jaws numbering in the millions. His face had no eyes, clearly eaten by the largest insects, his face swollen from an allergic reaction, holes in different parts of his body, and his orifices more open than usual.

It was a terrifying sight, but trying not to vomit, Jon and I approached him, tying the rope around his "half" intact leg; we began to drag him towards the outskirts of the forest.

When we reached the outskirts, the conversation that had been heard when we were inside was silenced as if by a magical spell, a memorable silence as all the people present saw the body of the young sadist who had promised revenge. 

"Hang him on the castle walls; let his body serve as a message against those that break the law in the north," I told a group of guards.

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