A silence fell.
Lord Eddard closed his eyes, then opened them again. The direwolf's gray eyes shifted toward him. "Roose, I will write the letter."
His gaze returned to the map as he murmured, "As for Stannis..."
Seeing Lord Eddard deep in thought, Roose waited for a moment before taking the initiative. "My lord, Stannis's head would make a fine gift to show the King and Queen the North's loyalty."
Lord Eddard's finger paused as it traced across the map. He fixed the man before him with a sharp gaze. "Lord Bolton, this is a battle for the survival of all the living. Stannis, too, is part of our defense against the White Walkers."
The Lord of Dreadfort frowned slightly. "Yet he still calls himself king. And he sees us as traitors—you know his character well."
He looked directly at the Duke of Winterfell. "The matter of how he is to be dealt with should be judged by the King and Queen. That would better demonstrate the North's sincerity."
He stepped forward and continued, "Lord Ned, I have a way to capture Stannis alive. Please leave this matter to me..."
Lord Eddard cut him off with a frown. "What way?"
Without waiting for Roose to respond, he added in a hard voice, "I will never allow the honor of the North to be stained again. Roose Bolton, I hope you remember that."
Roose's face, like one carved from ice, did not change in the slightest. "Lord Stark, Stannis has long since trampled upon the North's honor. He seized the lands the North granted to the Night's Watch to settle those so-called subjects of his—tens of thousands of Wildlings from beyond the Wall."
He stared into the direwolf's eyes. "Clearly, Stannis has no ability to fill those Wildlings' bellies."
Lord Eddard