Jonnel Stark

"'The North would bleed itself dry before seeing that southron bitch rule from Winterfell. I do as I must, because there can be no compromise.' - Jonnel Stark, 177 AC"

Jonnel Stark was a Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, under the reign of King Jaehaerys II Targaryen. He inherited his position after forcibly marrying his niece Sansa Stark. He is known for ruling under the brief period known after his death as The Silence of the Snows.

Personal Background
Jonnel was the second eldest child of Cregan Stark, the Old Man in the North. As many 'middle children' often did, the young Jonnel felt neglected, and found it difficult to make lasting friendships with both his kin and his father's bannermen. He was a constant presence in the castle nonetheless, venting his frustrations upon the lowborn and later, his own nieces and nephew.

None were so targeted as his older brother, Rickon. Rickon was well-loved by any who met him. He was handsome, as Jonnel was longer-faced and thin-haired even in youth. He was talented with a sword, while Jonnel never grew to love his training. He was popular with women, while Jonnel made maidens turn their cheeks. What talents Jonnel did have were for animals. Many witnessed Jonnel speaking with the ravens of Winterfell's rookery, or the cats that stalked the frigid halls of his family castle, leading to vicious rumours that he was a skinchanger.

Much of the Starks journeyed with Rickon to Castle Black to pay their respects to the ancient order, but Jonnel was left behind. When the family returned with the corpse of Rickon Stark and a bloodthirst to see House Ryswell bear the blame, Jonnel was one of the Rills' outspoken supporters. The argument split the family, leaving nearly everyone opposed to the 'Dourwolf', but none as vocally as his father Cregan and his brother Barthogan. Barthogan departed from Winterfell in anger, and Jonnel bore the blame.

Though he grew well into his third decade, Jonnel never married. The succession of House Stark was an increasingly common point of contention with the family that still lived in Winterfell. Rickon had left behind no sons, and Cregan was growing close to the end. Still, Cregan made no effort to find a suitable match for his second son, and was silent on the fate of the North after his death.

More on the Silence of the Snows can be read here: The Silence of the Snows
A feast warmed the halls of Winterfell, celebrating Cregan's nameday while he still drew breath. When the Old Man passed from the world, Winterfell would fall into the hands of Sansa, his granddaughter. Jonne sought an opportunity, and had already placed the pieces on the board. The houses Umber, Ryswell, and Dustin served his command that night. Cregan died in his sleep, red-cheeked from mead and laughter, and Sansa fled for White Harbor.

With the aid of his allies, she never made it. She was brought back to Winterfell in irons, and his only opponent, Barthogan, could only watch with bated breath during the wedding ceremony.

For five years, the rest of the North could only watch in silence as a treacherous man enjoyed the fruits of his labor. The Lord of Winterfell was a hard ruler, insolent and impossible to sway in his dealings. He never looked past the potential for House Manderly to betray him for his treatment of their kin, and kept the nobles of White Harbor on a short leash. His visits to the city were frequent and without celebration.

One such visit was his last; while feasting in the company of the Manderlys, Jonnel abruptly and suddenly died. It was a humiliating death, with his face burnt red in soup.

Either a blessing or a curse saw that the union between Jonnel and his niece produced no living children, only stillbirths and miscarriages. Sansa was a broken woman, thoroughly mad and on the brink of senility. The newly-named Lord Barthogan Stark's first commands were to see Sansa and Jeyne returned to White Harbor, and for Jonnel's remains to be interred in the crypts of Winterfell. A statue of a wolf sits across his tomb, watching like the 'Dourwolf' might rise a second time to bring misery to the realm of winter.