Chapter 10. Fall of the Dread Fort

Ironrath

Ironrath was closer to Guardstone than the Dreadfort. Roen Stryder leads 3,000 men on horseback towards the stronghold of Ironrath. Two miles from the fortress Roen reigns in his horse and makes a fist. Then he signals his scouts with his hand. They wait and then the scouts return four hours later.

"Ironrath is under the siege…The main gates won't hold much longer…"

"How many men?"

"We are outnumbered two to one…They got catapults as well…"

"Sir Banik…Take a hundred men take out those catapults…Jiles the archers run those bastards down the rest of you on me…ATTACK!"

The ground shakes like thunder as Roen leads his army towards Ironrath. "My Lord…Look!" Britt Warrick master at arms says to Ludd Whitehill, "House Stryder!"

"Archers to the rear…Get the dam gate open!"

Sir Jiles runs through the archers before they can get into position for a counter attack. In one pass they wipe out the archers and then join Roen. Sir Banik's group rides by the catapults throwing torches at the catapults and barrels of oil. "HOUSE STRYDER!" Gared Tuttle yells from the wall of Ironrath. Ethan Forrester had knighted Gared after he survived the Red Wedding, killed two Bolton men at his farm and returned the sword of Ironrath to the stronghold.

"Hold your fire dammit!" Royland Degore yells not wanting to hit Stryder men.

Ludd's Calvary forces one thousand strong break away from the main force to build up speed then they turn to side swipe the Stryder forces as they ride through the main army. The Stryder forces throw their left arms out and fire the arrows in their arm gauntlets.

"My Lord we must retreat!" That is when Britt is beheaded by a rider passing by.

"RETREAT! RETREAT!" Ludd yells riding hard with his men away from Ironrath.

"My Lord! Do we pursue?" Banik asks riding up to Roen.

"No…Let them think they can make it safely home…Let them think they will receive help from the Boltons…"

"Open the gates!" Royland demands.

The Stryder men go through the battlefield killing enemy wounded soldiers. As they do the gates of Ironrath open and out runs Mira Forrester into the arms of Roen who jumps off his horse and picks her up spinning her around.

As Roen walks through the halls of Ironrath the soldiers of Ironrath beat their swords on their shields in thanks. Ethan Forrester stands before his throne with Royland Degore and Duncan Tuttle standing behind him. "Welcome back to Ironrath Lord Roen…" Ethan says, "My family is forever in your debt…"

Mira is holding Roen's hand, "Your family is my family as well…My Lord…I am betrothed to your sister…There are no debts between us…"

"So House Stryder will fight…" Royland asked.

"My brother married Sansa Stark…The rest of our army is marching to the ruins of Winterfell…We sent Ravens to all the Lords in the north…Whatever is left of the north must unite and destroy the Freys and Boltons or they will destroy us…At any rate my orders are to march on to Highpoint and take it…"

Royland walks around Ethan and takes a knee, "Milord with your permission I would like to ride with Lord Roen to Highpoint…"

"Is this necessary?" Elissa Forrester asked, "Hasn't enough blood been shed…"

"The blood flow will stop when our enemies lie dead milady…House Stryder will not forgive the deaths of its King nor its Lord …"

Ethan looks at his mother, "We all have hard days before us…Lord Roen ask any boon of me and it shall be granted…"

Roen looks at Mira, "My Lord…" She says, "Lord Roen and I have discussed it…We live in uncertain times and we wished to be married today…"

Ethan smiles as Duncan Tuttle whispers in the young Lord's ear, "Mother make all the arrangements…"

"Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!"

They break open the ale prepare the food and all of Ironrath celebrates the marriage of Mira Forrester to Roen Stryder. They say their vows and feast like Kings. Then Roen beds his new wife. Sunrise finds Roen kissing his wife goodbye, "Come back to me…" She says as 2,000 Stryder men march out of Ironrath with a 1,000 men of House Forrester.

He sighs, "So we can make many babies…"

He kisses her again and mounts his horse, but before he can ride off she gives him her handkerchief. A week later Roen leads an attack on Highpoint. Ludd's forces are unprepared and get massacred. The battle lasts two days then Roen rides away after looting Highpoint. He leaves the holdfast burning and the heads of Ludd and his family on pikes lining the road to Highpoint.

The Dread Fort

The moon was full and it was midnight, the perfect time for an attack on the Dread Fort. Nigel Gert divided his army into two groups. One to attack the main gate and the other from the river. The force attacking from the river was made up of mostly archers. They scaled the wall and killed the men on patrol. Then several soldiers made their way to the main gates. After killing the gate guards the doors were opened.

"NOW!" Gert shouted leading the charge of his men into the fortress. As Bolton men awaken and come to the square they are shot down by archers on the wall.

Ramsay Snow jumps out of bed and heads down with several men following him. He smiles when he sees Nigel Gert. "This is turning out to be a fine night!"

Ramsay's men attack Nigel's men while the two face off against each other. "Surrender now boy…I taught you everything you know…"

"Not everything old man…"

They attack at the same time both armed with a sword in each hand. Nigel spins around aiming high with his right and low with his left. Ramsay blocks and counters his attack, they fight back and forth trying to best each other. Then Ramsay knocks Nigel's right sword from his hand and thrusts forward. Nigel goes down on his back sticking his feet up and takes the sword away from Ramsay rolling backwards. He sticks Ramsay's left sword into the ground and comes up on his knees, then his feet.

Nigel picks up the sword and walks forward. They start to fight again then Ramsay kicks Nigel in between his legs, but before he can finish his former master off an archer knocks the sword from his hand by shooting him in the wrist. Nigel gets up and punches Ramsay in the face knocking him out. By high noon the next day the Dread Fort has fallen and all of the men of the Dread Fort are dead. The servants are released and the castle plundered.

"Sir Nigel!" A man says walking up to him. Ramsay Snow is on his knees with six men standing over him. "I think you better come see this sir…"

Nigel follows the knight down to the kennel where Theon Greyjoy is in a cage. The dogs are barking, "Theon Greyjoy…"

"My name is Reek!" He whispers.

"He keeps saying that over and over…They tortured the poor bastard…"

"Get him out of there and kill these fucking dogs…"

As they struggle to take Theon out of the cell the dogs are shot with crossbows. Then they set the Dread Fort on fire and leave. Ramsay Snow watches from a horse with his hands shackled as his home burns.