Ser Theo Snow – Trident/Kings Landing
Theo had been a knight in his brother's household for over 15 years now but in all that time he never once thought that he would be given command of such a large host.
His nephew had come to him before they left the Pillar for Winterfell and said that he would be given command of the 5000 men that would be travelling south with the rest of the Stark bannermen while he took the rest of their men to assault the Reach.
He had of course been honoured and would not let his nephew down he made that promise to himself. Theo knew that many of the lords under his command had some complaints about taking orders from a bastard brother of their liege lord but none questioned when Rickard gave the order.
The might of the north had all marched down from Moat Cailin over 20000 man from all corners of the north had answered their liege lords call.
What would usually take a little over two weeks the journey from Winterfell to Moat Cailin had taken them over four weeks they had been delayed by snows and bad weather.
Arriving in the Riverlands they made their way to Riverrun to be greeted by Lord Hoster Tully the man's daughter was supposed to be wed to Brandon Stark and was only going to join his men to the rebels if Eddard Stark the new lord of Winterfell wed his daughter in his brother's place.
The wedding of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully had been a relatively small affair when you consider who was actually getting married but Stark wouldn't allow anything bigger.
After the wedding had taken place the planning had begun, not all of Tully's bannermen had answered their lords' call. Many of the lords had declared for the Targaryens and were attacking those who had declared for Robert Baratheon.
Lord Arryn was also being delayed in joining the rebels by some other loyalists in the Vale.
In the time that they were in Riverrun word had reached Theo of his nephew Rickard and those other northern lords in the Reach. His nephew had successfully taken the Shield Islands and if what word they had received was true he was moving to the mainland.
On hearing this Theo had never been more proud of his nephew and knew he would continue to do their family proud.
Weeks were going by with nothing happening, those rebellious lords in the Vale and Riverlands had largely been dealt with.
Theo's first taste of battle was when Stark, Tully and Arryn men were all called upon to rescue Robert Baratheon who was hiding somewhere within the town of Stoney Sept after his defeat at Ashford.
Lord Stark had given Theo and his men orders to go around the town and take the loyalists from the rear to stop any retreat.
Theo and Magner Thenn had come up with a plan to minimise their losses. Thenn would take his free folk through the side and back streets and push the loyalists out into the main street while rode them down with what cavalry he had.
The battle that followed was quick and decisive the north, river and vale men had superior numbers and easily overcame the loyalists. It was during this battle that Theo first saw Robert Baratheon the new king if the rebels were successful in dethroning the dragons.
The man was a force to be reckoned with he swung his war hammer like a man possessed he hit enemy after enemy and brought all down in his path.
Only a small fraction of the loyalist forces had managed to escape the slaughter led by the mad kings hand Jon Connington.
It was after the battle was won the commanders were all called to a tavern being used as a command centre to discuss where they would move to next. It was decided that the rebels would head to the trident to regroup and assess where they would go to from there. Many of the lords including Baratheon were in favour of marching straight for Kings Landing but luckily Lords Stark and Arryn had managed to dissuade him from such an action as they would be outnumbered and deep in enemy territory.
Making camp on the banks of the Green Fork Theo was called to the command tent by his liege lord who said he had some information about Rickard.
"Ser Theo we have just heard that Mathis Rowan has left the siege of Storms End with a host of 20000 men and is heading for the Reach in search of Rickard and his men, they left some weeks past we don't know what has happened" Stark said to him solemnly.
Before Theo could respond Robert Baratheon spoke "Lord Rickard was a fool trying to attack the Reach such a small host he has cost the lives of thousands who would have been needed in taking Kings Landing"
Theo was livid, his nephew had risked all to ensure that the Reach didn't join the loyalist armies and this was what this would be king thought of him, but before Theo could say anything the three Lord Paramounts Stark, Tully and Arryn erupted in angry shouts at Baratheon.
"Is this how our new king will look upon those who right now could be dying to see him on the throne" Lord Tully asked looking to Stark and Arryn.
Baratheon looked ashamed now with what he said and was even more ashamed when Stark and Arryn both began shouting at the would be king.
They all had seemed to forgotten about Theo until Baratheon turned to Theo and spoke "Ser Theo I am sorry for the disrespect that I have shown your nephew and your family, when I sit the Iron Throne I will make sure that Rickard Frost is remembered for his bravery and loyalty."
All the men gathered seemed to think that Rickard was as good as dead none seemed to think that he could make it through the war, Theo kept his thoughts to himself tho and simply said "thank you your grace I'm sure my nephew would be pleased to hear this"
Before leaving the tent lord Stark gave him a knowing look but said nothing. Making his way back to his tent he spoke with Magner Thenn and Robin Cuy heir to the Cuy lands. "The flowers have sent a force in search of Rickard and his men in the Reach" he told them.
Robin looked at him then fearing for his father and brother who were with Rickard "I have no news on anything else with any luck they will escape the Reach before they are caught" Theo said hoping it was the truth.
Weeks had gone by without hearing any more news about the Reach or his nephew in that time tho word had reached them that Rhaegar had resurfaced and was amassing an army to destroy the rebels once and for all and was moving to their position even now.
Theo had seen to it that his men were ready they had been ordered to train more and more so that when the time came the people of the western shore did not lose too many lives.
Their scouts had reported that the loyalists led by Prince Rhaegar were closing in fast they would be within sight of where they had camped with an hour or so. Ser Theo Snow bastard knight was atop his horse next to his Liege Lord Eddard Stark awaiting the approaching army.
At their backs were 16000 Northmen all waiting to get revenge for the loss of those Northern Lords killed by the mad King, every man wanting to be the one to bring down the dragon prince and get back the Lady Lyanna Stark.
"Hold the line Theo this will be the final battle of the war win or lose and we can afford to lose" Eddard Stark said to him.
"Aye my lord the men won't let you down" Theo responded through his visor.
When Theo finally saw the loyalist army he was shocked at just how big that it was the full might of the Crownlands as well as Dorne and those River and Vale men who sided with the dragons over 50000 men against a significantly smaller rebel army.
He heard the sound of hundreds of horns being blown then on both sides of the great plain where the battle would be fought. He felt a chill then and gripped his reigns tight with left hand while drawing his sword with his right.
He watched as the signal was given and they begun their charge forward Theo in the front gripping his sword tighter now.
Theo could hear arrows flying overhead from both side and the screams that followed knowing they had met their target.
He carried on looking at the enemy who were close enough now to make out faces, Theo picked one face and decided that this would be his first target.
They met in a clash of steel sparks flying off their swords at they swung at each other three then four times before Theo was able drive his sword into his opponents neck. Without watching the man fall Theo moved on to the next man which proved to be a much easier fight it took him only two swings before finding the man's weak spot and driving his sword deep into it.
He could see Lord Stark a short way away fighting two men at once Theo moved quickly over and stabbed one of the men in the back while Stark brought down his great sword Ice onto the other man's head.
The battle was in full effect now; Theo could see that loyalist numbers were proving to be much, the rebels seemed to be losing too much ground.
Theo heard a horn blown then in the far off rear of the enemy host and looked up to see the Tyrell rose and Tarly huntsmen as well as dozens of other Reach banners and for a second thought that this was the end.
But then Theo noticed that there were other banners flying the stag of the Baratheon's among them and in the centre of the host he saw the Frost banner and was sure he saw his nephew's black and silver armour in the front line.
The newly arrived army seemed to be riding hard and fast into the rear of the dragon army and was destroying all in their paths, the rebel army seeing this seemed to be reenergized they begun to push back harder and faster than before and the ground seemed to be getting littered with the enemy dead.
It continued like this before Theo noticed that more and more of the enemy army was throwing down their weapons, looking around he saw that Robert Baratheon was standing over the body of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen with his war hammer covered in Rhaegar's blood.
Having seen their fallen prince the dragon army had seemed to lose faith in their cause and before he knew it they had all thrown down their weapons.
It was a short while after the battle had ended in their victory, Theo was walking beside Lord Stark to a clearing where Robert Baratheon their new king was sitting on the back of a cart while the Lords Arryn, Tully, Royce, Bracken and Bolton stood speaking to the king.
"Your grace Selmy is a traitor better to kill him now" Theo heard Bolton say.
"No I want him spared, Maester see to his wounds before you deal with me" the king said causing one of the army maesters to scurry off.
"Ned did you see I killed that dragon spawn with my own hands" the king said noticing Theo and Starks presence.
"Yes your grace although it would have been wiser to keep him alive till we found Lyanna" Stark replied.
Before getting a chance to respond a cheer was heard in the camp, turning Theo saw that three men were riding in their direction.
Theo had never been happier to see that among the three was his nephew Rickard looking a fierce sight in his black and silver armour the crowds were parting in their wake. One of the other men could only be the king's brother Stannis with an antler helm still on, the third man had a great sword strapped to his back but Theo didn't know who it was.
The third man got to his knee in front of the king and spoke "your grace in my liege lords name I Randyll Tarly lord of Horn Hill do pledge the service and undying loyalty of the Reach to House Baratheon"
Everyone gathered was looking at this with complete shock "rise Lord Tarly, tell me why has Mace Tyrell seen fit to join our cause now" the king asked.
"Lords Frost and Baratheon has shown us the errors of our way for supporting the dragons" looking at the two men as he spoke.
"Stannis we had heard that Storms End was under siege by land and sea how is it you are here" the king asked.
"Yes it was true that Storms End was under siege and that my people were starving with no rescue in sight" looking at his brother when he said the last bit "but Rickard broke the Redwyne fleet blockading the bay coming to our rescue" Stannis said.
"But how was it that ye managed to make cause with the Tyrells laying siege on land they must have had over 40000 men outside your walls" Hoster Tully asked.
"Lord Frost again put an end to the siege he had men placed inside the Tyrell camp and when the time was right we emptied the castle walls and fought the Tyrell army and brought them to their knees" when Stannis finished speaking every eye was on Rickard.
The lords and king all looked at Rickard in awe having not only breaking the siege of Storms End and destroying an army with vastly more numbers but bringing the Tyrells on side and coming to their own aid thus ensuring their victory.
They all remained quiet for a while before all the lords' one after the other congratulated and thanked his nephew for all he had done. The king stood then injured as he was and stood before Rickard. His nephew went to his knee then and merely said "your grace"
King Robert Baratheon shouted at the top of his lungs for all to hear declaring Rickard as a hero of the war and when he came to his throne Rickard would be rewarded greatly.
Many hours later after Theo and his nephew had a chance to catch up both telling each other all that happened them over the last few months, Theo felt a sense of pride towards his nephew that he couldn't bring to words.
"What news of the Pillar has there been any news of my father" Rickard asked. "The last letter I received from your sister said that he was still alive but was getting weaker everyday" Theo said knowing this isn't what Rickard wanted to hear.
They spoke of their losses then of the 11000 men that the western shore had sent to war only 6000 of those would be returning home to their families. Their dead included many lords and heirs the worst hit was the Cuys, lord Cuy had died in the Stormlands with Rickard and they had just received word that Robin Cuy had died earlier today. This meant that Jon the boy he had known and trained for years was now a lord.
Rickard spoke highly of Jon he said that he proven himself and earned his knighthood and that he would make a fine lord when they returned north.
Theo had expected that the men would be allow to rest there for a day or so but their scouts reported that a Lannister Army was moving towards kings landing. Since the king was injured he had tasked Eddard Stark with securing the capital and so they marched long and hard until they reached the city.
The gates of the city were opened and there was smoke coming from many parts of the city, it appeared the Lannisters had sacked the capital.
Riding through the streets behind Lord Stark and his nephew he was shocked to see what was happening there were women and children lying dead in the streets the work of the Lannister army.
Nearing the Red Keep Theo saw that both Stark and Rickard had stopped and were looking at a man wearing Lannister red raping a septa while others looked on. Rickard jumped from his horse kicked the man off and with one swing of his axe took the man's head off while ordering that the men who were watching to be taken and that the septa was to be looked after.
Entering the throne room Theo was shocked to see that there were Red Cloaks all along the wall of the throne room and the king lay dead on the ground and there was a member of his own kingsguard sitting on the throne.
"Ah lord Stark I've been keeping the throne warm for our friend Robert" the man who could only be Jamie Lannister joking say.
"Arrest this man" Lord Stark said to his men, the Red Cloaks initially were going to stop them but thought better as the northerners outnumbered them two to one.
Watching as the young Lannister was brought away Ned turned to Rickard and Theo and said "search the keep for Princess Elia and her children I don't want the Lannisters getting their hands on them"
With that Theo and Rickard left along with some of their men and made for the royal quarters only to see a number of Lannister guardsmen outside the door. Rickard ordered them to stand aside in the name of the king and Rickard killed the first man to refuse the rest complied willingly.
Pushing open the doors Theo was horrified to see the bodies of two small children as well as a small women lying dead on the floor, there was two men standing over their bodies smiling. One of the men was the biggest man he had ever seen and was built like a bull.
Theo saw his nephew draw both his sword and axe and move forward towards both men, it took Theo and four others to restrain him from attacking the men. Theo kept telling him that the King will want to punish both men himself which seemed to placate him.
After both men were taken away Theo watched as his nephew looked at the bodies of Princess Elia and her two young children and saw his face so full of sadness that it made him sad to even look at it.
Theo hoped then that when he returned home he would never have to step foot in the south ever again.