So this story has been getting a much better response than my other story which kinda of surprised me. I have about 9,000 words for this story crudely written. The other story has about 50,000 words so it gives me a little more room to have updates done on a regular bases. I might have two more updates for this story before my updates begin to become less regular. I would like to have one update a week for this story but I'm not sure how long that will last. If you like this story check out my other story that's in the book category. It's called Return of Robb Stark.
Chapter Two: North vs South
"How could this have happened lord Tarly?" Mace yelled at his bannermen in the small council chamber.
"The young wolf came on us as we entered Duskendale. My vanguard was overrun. All reports said he was at Harrenhal. He must have marched his host through the night." Lord Tarly said defensively.
"And what did his forces number in my lord?" Littlefinger asked in his usual weaselly tone.
Almost embarrassed to say. "8000 horse combined with maybe 3000 men at arms already at Duskendale and….
"11,000 men! You had 23000 men in your host." The lord of Highgarden yelled.
"The fight was going our way but we were ambushed from the east. It seems the young wolf hired a sellsword company and several thousand slave soldiers. Maiden's men and slave soldiers overwhelmed our lines."
"Lord Hand, give me leave to take the entirety of the king's army with me. We have almost 60,000 men left. With Stannis dead, the young wolf is the only threat to his grace's rule. Let me end this for him." Mace Tyrell said.
Seemly ignoring Mace Tyrell, "Lord Tarly what kind of slave soldier did you see?" Tyrion asked.
"We retreated before all of them whereupon us but I saw what seemed to be unsullied and others with green stripes tattooed on their faces." Randall Tarly replied.
"You seem to have described the tiger clocks of Volantis, but I don't understand why they would back a rebel lord. The free cities have never paid that much attention to Westeros." Tyrion questioned to the council in general.
"On that count, I may have some news" Replied Varys in his soft-spoken tone. "I have heard many rumors that I gave no credit to until today. As you all know Robb Stark broke his marriage to the Freys for a foreign girl. It seems that girl is of distant relations to Malaquo Maegyr one of the three ruling Triarchs of Volantis. It seems news of his ken becoming Queen in the North caused him to rally the Volantene behind Robb Stark. Robb Stark's new goodbrother and goodfather are now both favorited to win positions as Triarchs. Never in Volantis history has one family held all three Triarchs."
"Why would they back a pretender like Robb Stark who has no hope of claiming the Iron Throne?" Mace questioned.
"Half and kingdom is still a valuable ally," Varys replied.
"Regardless, we need to crush the young wolf soon. We still outnumber him 3 to 1." Lord Tyrell said.
Tyrion couldn't help but laugh. "Lord Tyrell every opponent he has faced has outnumbered him. Your greatest general was just defeated by him whilst he outnumbered him 2 to 1. And you wish to fight him in the field? No, I think not if we are going to win this war it won't be on the field."
"No one is undefeatable. The boy has gotten lucky. But his luck cannot last forever. We have justice on our side. The warrior will give us strength to bring the North and Riverlands back in the fold." Mace said proudly.
"Lord Tywin finally spoke. Tyrion is right. We have been waiting for him to fail. He isn't going to fail on his own. He has a good mind of battle and his men worship him. If he is going to be defeated we need to grind away at him. His weakness is in his politics. The Ironborn raid his land while his most trusted advisor is Theon Greyjoy. He just executed one of his own bannermen for the murder of my nephews and besides these forces from the free Volantis, he has no allies. We need to overwhelm him. I'm sending Lord Baelish to treat with Lysa Arryn. Lord Baelish is the newly made Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. He will bring Lysa Arryn back into the fold through marriage. We'll see how strong the Young Wolf's resolve is when his own aunt has taken up arms against him. I've order another host formed at Casterly Rock. We will attack Riverlands from 3 sides forcing the young wolf to split his host. When his bannermen see how overwhelmed he is they will start abandoning his cause. Now if there is nothing else this meeting is adjourned."
Everyone save for Kevan and stood and began to leave. "Stay," Tywin said to his son as he began to leave.
"Do you truly believe Robb Stark is foolish enough to split his host against 60,000 men?" Tyrion asked.
"Of course not. But the lords needed to have a clear plan of action. This last battle had a much more devastating effect than losing 15,000 men. We were beginning to pick his army apart. Lords were beginning to lose faith. The Freys and Boltons had all but switched sides. Now with this last victory, Walder Frey will remain neutral. Roose Bolton's creditability has been destroyed and now he has a free city backing him. However with all of Robb Stark's brothers died at the hands of the Ironborn that leaves Sansa as his heir. You will marry her and after Robb Stark has been killed your son through Sansa will rule the North.
"Sansa is only a child. She is not yet 16. I…"
"This is not a discussion. This needs to be done for the Lannisters to remain in power. You will wed her and bed her. I trust you can do that." With Tywin dismissed his son.