Last Hearth

Last Hearth is the ancient stronghold of House Umber, one of the most powerful and fiercely independent vassal houses of Winterfell. Located in the far north of the Seven Kingdoms, the castle commands the approaches to the Gift and the Wall, making it a crucial strategic asset in any northern war. By the time of A Dance with Dragons, the house is deeply divided, its loyalty split between the surviving Starks, the usurper Roose Bolton, and the claimant Stannis Baratheon.

Identity and History

House Umber has long been known for its martial prowess and its lords, the Greatjon and his kin, are renowned for their size, strength, and ferocity. The Umber sigil is a roaring giant, and their words are "The Giant Awakens." The house's seat, Last Hearth, is a formidable castle, though its exact defenses are not described in detail in this volume. The Umbers were among the first northern houses to rally to Robb Stark, the King in the North, and the Greatjon himself was a key commander in the Young Wolf's army.

Division and the War of the Five Kings

The capture of the Greatjon at the Red Wedding fractured House Umber. His two uncles, Mors Umber, called Crowfood, and Hother Umber, called Whoresbane, became the effective leaders of the house in his absence. They chose opposite sides in the ensuing conflict. Mors Crowfood declared for Stannis Baratheon, seeing him as the best hope to avenge the Starks and restore northern independence. Hother Whoresbane, however, bent the knee to Roose Bolton, the new Warden of the North, likely because the Lannisters held the Greatjon captive. This division is a source of tension and weakness for the house.

The Umbers in the Northern Campaign

Jon Snow, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, provides key intelligence about the Umbers to Stannis. He explains that Mors Crowfood is a fierce old fighter who lost his sons on the Trident and his daughter to wildlings. Crowfood demands Mance Rayder's skull as a drinking cup and a pardon for his brother Whoresbane as the price for his allegiance. Stannis, desperate for northern allies, is forced to consider these terms. Jon also warns Stannis that Umber will not fight Umber, meaning that if the king marches against the Dreadfort, he must ensure Crowfood and Whoresbane are on opposite ends of the battlefield to avoid a direct confrontation between the two Umber factions.

Narrative Significance

Last Hearth and the Umber schism serve as a microcosm of the fractured state of the north after the Red Wedding. The house's internal conflict mirrors the larger struggle between the Boltons and Stannis, and its outcome will have a significant impact on the war for the north. The fate of the Greatjon, a prisoner of the Freys, hangs over the house, and his potential return could reunite the Umbers under a single banner. The castle itself, while not seen, represents a prize that both sides covet, and its allegiance could tip the balance of power in the region.