[ And it was mine as well, once, he thinks, but he sounds doubtful. His heart may tell him as much, but politics and warfare aren’t built upon matters of the heart. Winterfell may be the ancestral seat of House Stark, but that isn’t enough to prevent Bolton forces from taking it if they’re strong enough to hold it. Theon and his ironborn were not strong enough. ]
The only home they’ve ever known. Of course they care.
[ His eyes turn downcast and his fingers twist together once more. Why does he continue to defend them? They’ve lied to him, deceived him…He cares for them, but he doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to trust them again, so he tries to listen to Ramsay, tries to hear him out despite the monster of a man he believes him to be.
His words make sense. More sense than Sansa’s or Jon’s. ]
It…was a sensible thing. Your marriage to Lady Sansa.
[ He agrees. It isn’t the match Lord Eddard would have wanted. Never in a million years would he have allowed it, but it does make sense, politically, and Lord Baelish…what can be said of him? He arranged the match, and he is not Lord Eddard. ]
They wished—they turned the whole of the North against you solely to retrieve Winterfell? Was there no other purpose?
no subject
[ And it was mine as well, once, he thinks, but he sounds doubtful. His heart may tell him as much, but politics and warfare aren’t built upon matters of the heart. Winterfell may be the ancestral seat of House Stark, but that isn’t enough to prevent Bolton forces from taking it if they’re strong enough to hold it. Theon and his ironborn were not strong enough. ]
The only home they’ve ever known. Of course they care.
[ His eyes turn downcast and his fingers twist together once more. Why does he continue to defend them? They’ve lied to him, deceived him…He cares for them, but he doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to trust them again, so he tries to listen to Ramsay, tries to hear him out despite the monster of a man he believes him to be.
His words make sense. More sense than Sansa’s or Jon’s. ]
It…was a sensible thing. Your marriage to Lady Sansa.
[ He agrees. It isn’t the match Lord Eddard would have wanted. Never in a million years would he have allowed it, but it does make sense, politically, and Lord Baelish…what can be said of him? He arranged the match, and he is not Lord Eddard. ]
They wished—they turned the whole of the North against you solely to retrieve Winterfell? Was there no other purpose?