Green Light, Green Fork.
Chapter 1.
Lannister encampment, east bank of Green Fork. 30,000 strong.
War Tent.
Tywin Lannister.
It was a breezy, cloudy day at the encampment, but the large red tent housing the war council shielded them from the worst of the wind.
Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, was breaking his fast at midday, with his war council. His council consisted of: his brother Ser Kevan Lannister, Leo Lefford, Ser Addam Marbrand, Ser Gregor Clegane, Harys Swift, and his dwarf son Tyrion Lannister.
They were on the eastern bank of the Green Fork of the Riverlands. They were out for war. Lord Tywin Lannister's grandson King Joffery Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, his mother Queen Cersei at his side.
They had foes though. The Lannister's were at war with the Riverlords, after Catalyn Tully kidnapped Lord Tyrion Lannister', Tywin's despised younger son. To make matters worse, House Stark of Winterfell, had gotten caught up with its allies war in the Riverlands. Now the North, lead by Robb Stark, the eldest son of Eddard Stark, who had been arrested by Cersei in a failed attempt to dethrone King Joffery, had marched against house Lannister.
Thus explained why Tywin Lannister was calling a war council today.
'' Our scouts have told us that Robb Stark is moving his entire host down to the Green Fork, with Walder Frey's levies in tow. '' Ser Kevan announced.
Tywin could hardly have been more pleased. '' So be it. He has 20,000 men, but lacks experience, though not for mindless courage. The young wolf has launched itself into the Lions jaws.''
'' Robb will exhaust his men coming to meet us at the Green fork.'' Ser Addam announced. '' Let him come to us and we'll smash his host like a wave over a rock.''
Tywin nodded. '' Lord Tyrion has arrived with 500 mountain clansmen. We should test their discipline as soon as possible. ''
'' You forget father, that they agreed only to fight if I...'' Tyrion trailed off as he realized what his father was implying. Tywin remained stone faced. '' Your mountain clansmen wish to fight with you at their side. This is your chance to prove yourself on the front lines, and it will guarantee that your beastly companions will fight alongside you. ''
'' There are more subtle ways of trying to have me killed than placing me on the front lines! And ways that are less detrimental to the war effort!" Tyrion protested.
'' There will be no more discussion on the matter.'' Tywin stated, and Tyrion soon left his chair. '' I believe I just lost my appetite.''
He took a final swig of wine and left the council tent.
Tywin was hardly bothered by his departure. He turned back to his other officers. '' Tyrion will be placed at the far left, with all his clansmen and 1,000 light cavalry. He will also command another 1000 infantry. Those infantry will consist of our most recent recruits, undisciplined infantry. ''
'' But my lord, won't that put Tyrion's flank in danger?'' Ser Harys Swift asked.
'' I don't expect him to hold against the pressure of 20,000 northmen with soldiers like that. Robb is an inexpirienced commander. The second he detects a weak link, he will put all his weight on it. Tyrion's flank will collapse, mark my words.''
He turned to Clegane. '' Ser Gregor, you will be in command of 4000 light cavalry, just to the right of Tyrion. In the event they go on the defensive, you will harass them, make sure they cannot ignore you. ''
Tywin spread out a map on the table, one that specifically detailed the Riverlands.
'' According to our scouts, Robb is moving at us from the Twins. He will be on either side of the Green fork, but will be coming from the Northwest, that we know for sure. ''
'' He is a green boy, he wants to earn glory for himself. '' Leo Lefford stated. '' Let him try. I say we should make him come to us.''
'' Precisely. Ser Gregor and Tyrion will be commanding the left. Ser Kevan, you command the center. You are in command of 1000 heavy cavalry, plus 4,000 swordsmen, as well as 4000 pikemen and archers. I expect Tyrion's mountain clansmen will collapse under great pressure. You will then flank Robb's forces and we will crush him into dust. Ser Addam, you command the main horse at the right wing, 7500 knights and cavalry. If Robb retreats or doesn't attack our front lines, you will crush him to the ground, with the help of Ser Kevan. ''
He leaned back. '' The rest are the reserves, commanded by myself. 7500 men. If all goes to plan, we will be an impenetrable force. Capture Robb Stark, we can erase the threat of the North for good, and end this bloody war before the year is out.
Most of the council nodded, except for his brother. '' Lord Tywin, if Tyrion's left wing collapses, his life could be in danger. Even if we defeat Robb, your son may yet still die.'' His brother Kevan pointed out to him.
Everyone's eyes turned onto Lord Tywin Lannister, and his sucked in a breath. Damn you brother. Why must you point everything out to me? My true son is safe, away from this battle. Damn it, why does anyone even care about that dwarf?
He knew that there were few in Westros who cared at all about Tyrion. Tywin knew that Tyrion might be killed during the upcoming battle, but he hardly cared. Tyrion was a worthless dwarf who killed his own mother to come into this world, and who did nothing but drink and whore. Tywin already had two golden twins, a true-born son and daughter. He could spare Tyrion. Mayhaps he will bring more glory to our family name during his last hour alive, than he ever did in his lifetime.
He gritted his teeth, and didn't answer his brother's question. Instead he asked a question of his own; '' What news of Jaime?''
Ser Kevan looked shocked that he had swept the issue of Tyrion's safety in battle under the rug, in favour of his other son. '' Ser Jaime is still besieging Riverrun. Nothing has changed. The Tully's have stripped the land surrounding the castle bare, and boast of sufficient provisions for over 2 years. ''
Tywin nodded. '' We must make sure Robb doesn't leave Green Fork alive, or out of chains. That way we can secure the Riverlands, and hope that this is the last of the war. ''
Ser Addam raised a hand, and Tywin let him speak. '' My scouts have spotted Stark's host moving towards us. I can send men to harass them or their supply lines. ''
He waited for Tywin's reply. Lannister had always in the past sent men to harass upcoming enemy hosts, to weaken them. So everyone was surprised at his answer.
'' No. Keep your men here. I want Robb to come to us. The more we harass him now, the harder it will be for his entire host to get here. In that case, he might change his mind and forgo his assault. Which means that we still have an enemy in the Riverlands, out of our reach.'' Or worse, Robb might decide to pull some stunt and attack Jaime instead. Tywin thought.
Ser Addam nodded. '' Shall we begin preperations?'' He asked.
'' Robb's host is still 2 days march from us. Don't keep our men waiting and exhausted, else we will only bleed more when Robb finally attacks.'' Tywin rose from
his chair. '' Dismissed. ''
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Stark army encampment. The Twins.
Robb Stark.
Robb Stark stepped into his war Tent, and started studying a map of the Riverlands. His mother stepped in. '' Robb? What are you doing?''
'' We are a couple days march from Tywin Lannister's encampment.'' Robb said. '' Has Walder Frey agreed to our alliance?''
Catalyn nodded. '' Congratulations, you have been granted crossing of the Green Fork, and have an additional 4000 men to your cause.''
Robb nodded. He had the alliance of the Frey's, but the price was steep. In return for 4000 Frey swords, he had agreed to marry one of Lord Walder Frey's many daughter's, take his son Olyvar as a squire, and for Robb's younger sister Arya Stark ( who's whereabouts were unknown), to marry another of Walder Frey's brood, when they came of age.
'' So when will you cross the Twins?'' His mother asked, an edge of doubt in her voice.
Robb looked at the board and the map. '' I'm not going to cross.'' He said at last.
'' What?'' Catalyn asked, incredulous.
'' Tomorrow, we march southeast down the Green fork, on this side.''
'' But if you are not going to cross, then why did you agree to the alliance with Walder Frey?''
'' Because I needed his swords. Before this alliance, I had 18,000 men. Now I have 22,000. ''
'' But how do you expect to free Riverrun if you don't cross the trident?'' His mother asked.
'' I have summoned all my banner-men to a war council at dusk. Come and you will find out.'' Robb answered.
Stark army encampment. The Twins.
Dusk.
Robb Stark's war council.
Robb Stark.
'' Days ago, Robb let that Lannister scout scurry back to Tywin, saying that 20,000 northmen are heading towards him. However, we have not yet come to a decision.'' The Greatjon Umber announced.
'' Do we attack Ser Jaime, or Lord Tywin?''
All eyes turned to Robb. Last week before arriving at the Twin's, all of the Stark bannermen had debated war strategy. Most favoured a direct assault on Tywin Lannister with the exception of the Greatjon and Catalyn Stark, who favoured trying to slip past Tywin's army and directly confront Jaime's army besieging Riverrun. Each Lannister host had 30,000 men.
At the council sat the Greatjon Umber, his son the Smalljon, Daryn Hornwood, Rickard Karstark, the Blackfish, Walder River's from house Frey, and Robb's mother Catalyn Stark.
Robb looked at the map of the Riverlands, dotted with tokens of different animals, to symbolize the armies in the Riverlands. Their own host was represented by a Direwolf Token. To their southeast, lay a Lion piece, representing Tywin Lannister's host of 30,000 men. To the southwest, at Riverrun, lay a second Lion, symbolizing the Kingslayer's host.
'' We have all made our opinions heard. By now, Tywin expects us to attack him head-on. '' Robb announced.
'' Which is in our favour. I saw we should send a small force to delay Tywin. Then while he is busy, we send the majority of our forces across the Trident, to take Jaime by surprise. '' The Greatjon declared. He moved towards the map, and moved the pieces around, which ultimately resulted in Jaime's lion being knocked down and the siege of Riverrun being lifted.
Robb nodded. '' That could work. But it would leave Tywin still at large.'' Instead, he moved the dire-wolf piece at the flank of Tywin's lion.
'' You want to attack Tywin directly? You just told him that, if we move against him, we'll be slaughtered!'' The Greatjon protested.
'' The Lannister's expect that as a young '' green boy'', I'll want to gain glory by taking the mighty Tywin Lannister head on. ''
'' So you want to take him by a flank?'' The Blackfish asked.
'' Yes. See this hill? That's where I am taking some of my infantry to the top. His encampment is close to the riverbank. The hill gives us high ground to bleed him. As for the rest of my men-''
He grabbed a second dire-wolf piece, and placed it in the woods, behind the hill. '' We bleed Tywin from the hilltop. He will send men to take us from the front, and more to flank us from behind. That's where the rest of the army comes in. Take his assaulting force from the flank. ''
The Blackfish nodded. '' As long as that man lives, we will never know peace. But what about the siege of Riverrun?''
Catalyn joined her voice with her uncles. '' If we attack Tywin Lannister, assuming that we are victorious, the siege will still not be lifted.''
Robb shook his head. '' Once we deal with Tywin, we will march on Riverrun and free uncle Edmure. The sooner we defeat Lord Tywin in the field, the sooner the Lannister's will be forced to seek peace. That means we can get my father and sisters back. ''
Catalyn was still worried. '' Tywin is one of the most powerful commanders in Westros. I don't need to remind you what he did to the Reynes and Tarbecks. This is a serious gamble. If you're captured in this war...'' She left the rest unsaid.
'' Cat.'' Ser Bryden Tully spoke up. '' I understand your concern. But Robb isn't taking as serious a gamble as you think.''He turned to Walder River's. '' Show them.''
'' Show us what?'' Catalyn asked, and several of the bannermen shared puzzled looks, excluding the Blackfish, Walder Rivers, and Robb Stark.
Walder reached into a burlap sack and pulled out a jar. '' Look, but do not touch.'' He warned everyone, and several people jar was thick translucent glass. Inside was liquid with a bright green hue. '' It's safe, the jar is sealed. '' Walder assured the council.
'' Is that?'' Smalljon asked.
'' You got another weapon from our alliance with House Frey?'' Daryn asked Robb.
'' As per our agreement with Robb and Ser Bryden, '' Walder River's explained '' House Frey has generously given you no less than 3000 jars of the substance. We hope it will change the course of this war.''
Lady Catalyn Stark stared with an open mouth, realizing her son and uncle knew about this beforehand, had arranged it without telling her. She looked at the jar- one of 3000 according to Walder- and uttered out a single sentence: '' Robb, how did you persuade Walder Frey to give you so much Wildfire?''
This is my second multi-chapter Game of Thrones fanfiction Story. I own absolutely nothing, Game of Thrones belongs to HBO, and George R.R. Martin.
I didn't abandon my other story, '' Protector of the Realm.'' I'll get back to it later.
With this story, I have put in another factor: Every major house south of the Neck has control over a limited amount of Wildfire, to defend themselves, depending on how wealthy they are. This is going to prevent a lot of stalemates, no matter what happens.
When I had been writing this story, I realized that the Frey's have held the crossing for 600 years, and so there must be a good reason. Wildfire can count as a good reason.
At anyrate, the Battle of Whispering Wood is not going to happen in this story.
Next chapter: Robb's forces meet Tywin Lannister's host.