"God's Bronn, is now the best time for that?" Tyler said as Bronn offered him the skin of wine.
"It's always the best time for this." Bronn whispered.
"We are near the ruin, put the fucking wine away and signal the men to stop and gather around, I need to tell them the plan; all of them." Tyler said with his voice lowered. "But tell them to remain quiet, I doubt that Gregor would send out scouts but it's not impossible so we need to stay alert. Surprise will be the key to victory."
Bronn smiled at that. "Victory is what these boys like." He swigged down more wine before putting it back in his saddlebag.
Tyler limped to where a large rock blocked them from view and cleared the leaves out of the dirt. He pulled out his dagger and began hacking at the ground, he drew a rough sketch from memory of the fort. It had been two years ago but Tyler's memory had always been sound and he managed to do a good enough likeness to what lay ahead. The men had almost all gathered around as close as comfort would allow, Tyler knelt by the entrance to his fort drawing and looked up at them.
He sniffed and rubbed his nose before sheathing his dagger and scratching his chin. "Robb's in there, most likely right there." He said, pointing to the drawing of the little cell that the Mountain had forced Tyler to kill his first man in. He shook the thought from his mind. "And we've got to get him out, now in between us and the completion of that goal is an eight foot tall, blood-thirsty killing machine and his favourite troop of men that number roughly five hundred men, perhaps less after the battle. The plan I have concocted is a way to win this skirmish with minimal casualties and the capture of Gregor Clegane which will result in the rescue of Robb and the gratitude of Eddard Stark. The sort of gratefulness that can only be expressed through generosity." Tyler said with a smirk, all the sellswords chuckled. "How many men do we have with crossbows?"
In total Tyler had three hundred and ten men at his command, ninety five of them made up the men he had acquired from the northern lords, fourty five were the men that had been given to Jon by Ned and the rest were sellswords and the Hound.
Galbart Glover returned with the count. "We've got sixty with crossbows and ten with longbows."
Tyler smiled. "Sandor." The Hound stepped up with his hand on his pommel. "You will take fourty of the crossbowmen and all the longbows and harass your brother's forces. Bronn and Dacey will come with me with one hundred and thirty of the remaining men including ten of the crossbowmen and Galbert and Robett will go with the other half with the last of the crossbowmen." He pointed to a spot near the prison. "This is a weakness, the prison is underground and a section of the roof is open wide enough for a man to squeeze through one at a time. Galbert, you and your brother will take this entrance and Smalljon will go with you. Smalljon, it is your task and yours alone to secure Robb and keep him safe and away from the battle, you're a big man, if he struggles; restrain him. There is an old wooden door into what used to be the kitchen around the back here through where the gardens were. It's easy enough to kick down so me and Bronn and Dacey will take that entrance. Gentlemen, let's get to work." He said, struggling to his feet as the Hound sorted out his archers and the men divided themselves. "Remember we want the Mountain alive so don't attack him, just hold him off."
Bronn came to up to Tyler eagerly. "I've counted the men, we're set to go."
Tyler smiled back. "Men, the ruin is but miles ahead, Sandor you stick to the path, Galbart make sure you are on the right side and we will stay to the left. Forward men."
They marched lightly and relaxedly to reduce noise, a few people were wearing heavy armour but not enough to startle the enemy from so far away. The fort soon came into sight. Tyler and Bronn had their men behind the trees and they looked on as Sandor Clegane carved down the two guards near the ruined doorway like they were straw dummies. Three more men came at him but they were taken by crossbow bolts and the Hound slashed out the other's throat. The crossbowmen pushed to the wall and began shooting at men from cover. Tyler hurried his troop along as soon as he saw that Sandor was secure. They had to push through dense undergrowth before they reached the door and Dacey Mormont cleared it with her one-handed, double-bladed axe. Bronn slammed his foot into the door and it swung open. Tyler charged through the door first and saw the hallway up ahead through the kitchens, men were running around frantically warning the whole fort and Tyler flew through the open door and slammed into one of the runners, he pinned him against the wall and shoved his sword through the mans stomach. He ripped it out and turned around to see Bronn parry a cut and slash his opponent down before throwing his knife into a charging man's neck. Tyler's men streamed through and pummelled into the men who were trying to repel them but the defenders were too panicked. Tyler limped slowly down the hallway and saw Dacey Mormont to the right of him, she had blood on her axe and a cut on her arm but she had a grimace of anger not pain. A troop of men rounded the corner up ahead and saw Tyler walking with his blood covered men behind him. They saw the superior numbers and ran the opposite way, Tyler shouted to charge them.
He had that bloodlust now, that craving for danger, for the risk of losing his life and overcoming the odds. He forgot all about his limp and moved as fast as humanly possible as he chased down the Mountain's men next to Bronn. He saw the leader of the troop was a brown headed, ugly, loud mouth named Polliver. Dacey Mormont slammed her axe into one of the soldier's heads as she ran and Tyler leapt over her as she followed it to the ground and wrenched it out. Mid-air Tyler manage to whip a backslash at the man in front of him and blood sprayed into Tyler's chest. He landed on his feet and blocked a slash from the man to his right and used his left hand to unsheathe his dagger and ram the man to the other side of him in the throat. Tyler flicked the soldier's sword away from his and spun before sweeping it diagonally, deep into the man's torso. Bronn flew in behind him hacked and slashed at the frightened men. Tyler turned and ducked under a neck swing before plunging the dagger into the man's chest twice and pushing his limp body towards the next attacker, the man went down with a crash and Tyler swept his sword along the mans throat as he lay on the floor.
He looked around to see the troop cleared apart from Polliver who was struggling against one of Ned Stark's men before Dacey planted her axe in the back of his head. His eyes went back and he dropped instantly. Bronn gave a loud whoop and all the sellswords joined him. Tyler looked back at them all. "We need to get to the courtyard and help Sandor, around this corner." He said as they continued down the hallway, the entrance was another missing piece of stone in the wall and Tyler lead the men through it and saw the ruin scattered and covered in bodies with bolts and arrows sticking out of them. Robett Glover had cornered the remainder of the men and Sandor was in the middle beating his brother with is fists relentlessly kneeling over him, Ser Gregor Clegane's face was a bleeding, cut, bruised mess and he had a bolt in his leg and a bolt in his bicep. Tyler saw Smalljon kneeling next to Robb who was drinking from a water skin sitting up against a stone wall. He was bare-chested with tattered cloth pants and shoes made of wrapped up material and a rope, he had a wound from the battle that had been tended on his shoulder and he had more recent bruises on his face.
Tyler moved to Robb's side swiftly. He grabbed the unwounded shoulder and pulled Robb into his embrace. Robb gripped him tightly and Tyler felt his chin quivering on his shoulder. "Tyler, nothing I could do will ever repay you for what you have done for me today." He said gazing intensely into his eyes. "Gregor said Tywin was going to behead me anyway."
"No one will behead you while I breathe my lord." Tyler said with a hand on his shoulder. "This is Bronn, a sellsword in my service."
"I thank you also Bronn, Smalljon told me of your part in this also." Robb said, looking at the hulking warrior kneeling beside him.
"It was no problem m'lord, Tyler here saw to that." He said strongly.
"Smalljon, I want Ser Gregor in chains and I want you to take personal charge of him with Bronn and the sellswords, if they get bored they can have a punching bag." Tyler said. Smalljon strolled off and pulled the Hound off him. The Hound laughed and shouted for a drink.
"Maybe it'll make you hit harder!" Ser Gregor yelled through shattered teeth.
The Hound burst into sprint at his brother as Smalljon dragged him away before Smalljon dropped Ser Gregor and turned with his fist swinging. It connected with the Hound's temple at a violent speed and he fell to the floor instantly. He tried to rise but he was groggy and Smalljon rolled him over with his foot. "Tyler here ordered me to take charge of him, not you." He said as he grabbed Gregor by the neck and dragged him toward the prison.
"You have your equipment lying somewhere I presume?" Tyler asked.
"I'll find it." Bronn said swiftly before Robb could answer.
"You'll be taking charge I fear, much more of a moral boost for the men." Tyler said grimly.
"Not by the sounds of things, the men seem to be in awe of you." He said looking around at the men gathered all around him.
Tyler leaned forward. "I meant for when we arrive at the camp but these men are sellswords, they don't like dying, It's bad for business. They are in awe of me because most if not all will be getting paid a lot of money and not many, if any have wounds that will cause them much pain."
Once Robb was outfitted with the weapons and armour that the Mountain had taken from him he felt much stronger and more confident. He began moving with less pain and they were ready to leave quite quickly.
Tyler was going to suggest they leave until Robb spoke up first. "Any way you look at it these men were soldiers and warriors." He said, gesturing to the corpses that were littered with bolts. "Dig a mass grave, we will burn their bodies, they fought with bravery and don't deserve to be lunch for crows."
Tyler was not surprised by the act of generosity but he looked at the sellswords groaning in annoyance and had to wonder, Robb needs to learn to weigh a man's loyalty before he gives certain commands. Tyler decided it was best not to tell him how to lead his army. Ned's men followed his orders instantly and began digging the grave, the other northern men were dragging the bodies into a pile where the grave was being dug and Tyler tried to encourage the sellswords to help where they could. It took him and Bronn a few minutes to get them all to work but when everyone was contributing the task was completed swiftly. Tyler kicked the last corpse into the grave and Robb himself lit the torch. They had showered the grave with dry leaves and twigs and soon all the bodies in view were ablaze and the men did not linger.
"Let us hope there isn't a forest fire." Tyler said as he hurried to catch up with Robb at the head of the men.
"I doubt that very much." Robb said distantly. "How are the girls?" He asked eagerly.
"Sansa was forbidden to come see you, now I hope she will understand why, Arya is happy, she is learning to water dance like a Braavosi." He said with a chuckle.
"I got word of your visit to the little royal prick." Robb said glancing at him with a grin. "The boy had it coming."
"You have no idea." Tyler said knowingly.
"No I suppose not." Robb said, missing the hidden meaning. "But I have heard tales of the cruelty he showed all through his life, we do not need another mad king."
Tyler smiled at the comment, Robb is more observant than I realised; perhaps this march has changed him. "Indeed we don't. Tell me of the battle." He said amiably.
"I was marching everyone forward to look for signs of his host and where they had been, I figured if he tried to lay siege to the city while we were gone we could simply attack from behind and he would be crushed. It was as if his army had vanished the day that father turned him away from the city. Some came from the Kingswood, others came rushing out of a small village along the Rush, the rest came from our right flank; we were taken by surprise, I tried to spread the troops to hold while I figured out how to proceed. Then the Mountain attacked, he was crazed like nothing would stop him. He cut down Harrion Karstark right next to me and clubbed me with his gauntlet, his men carried me off and I remember nothing of the battle after that." Robb said, he sounded tired and worn through.
"And you're captivity? Nothing too vile I hope?" Tyler asked carefully.
"No, I was beaten and cut a few times by one they called the Tickler. A small pleasure for me to see his body burning." He commented with a scowl.
"Why did Jon not come?" Robb asked quietly.
"Various reasons, none of them personal I assure you." Tyler said, Robb was looking at him insistently so Tyler relented. "Lord Bolton has designs for your command post I fear, which would suggest he has designs for the future of his house, Jon is representing the Stark's in the camp while you are away, keeping the men in line and keeping them loyal. Also he found that he liked the soldier's atmosphere of the camp and a particular healing woman took his eye."
"Talisa?" Robb said suddenly.
"I did not learn her name. She was a beautiful one though." Tyler said, remembering the grubby woman ripping an arrow out of a man's thigh.
"Aye, that'd be Talisa." He said with a smile. "If only I had his freedom, but someone saw fit to make a marriage alliance without asking me."
"We needed that bridge, 'whatever the cost', you said to me. I remember it well." Tyler said defensively.
"I know, I know." Robb said, his voice slightly frustrated. "It's okay, I will do my damned duty, as always." He was staring straight ahead and Tyler noticed his hands clenching roughly by his side.
They were welcomed to the camp with a cheer, men clustered around them and said their piece to Lord Robb, they clamoured to shake his hand and clap his shoulder and a few men approached Tyler as well. When Smalljon brought the Mountain through men were hitting him and kicking him as he went past. Smalljon threw away the men who were closest to him and drove a path to the command tent and threw him down in the middle of the clearing in front of the tent.
Tyler and Robb finally made it up the hill. Robb approached all the northern lords who had gathered and Tyler went to Bronn and told him that he could disband the sellswords to collect their payment from Eddard Stark. My first command, a brief but successful one, Tyler congratulated himself. He turned again and noticed for the first time the red and blue banner flapping in the wind below the direwolf of the Starks, on it was a leaping trout and out of the tent came Edmure Tully, Blackfish and about nine or so men that Tyler had not met. Robb almost squeaked with pleasure as he saw the growing direwolf padding out of the tent, it leapt at him pinned him down licking his face before stepping off and rubbing his head into Robb's armpit. The men all smiled and laughed at their lord and his wolf.
Robb rose quickly and they quieted down. "You are a welcome sight uncles. Regretful that you did not arrive in time but thanks to my friend Ser Tyler here we have not been disadvantaged in any serious way." He turned out towards all the soldiers. "We have a war to win men, a war to win in the name of justice and to keep peace in the realm. The Lannister's want to own the Seven Kingdoms, it's our task to beast the bastards back to Casterly Rock. They may have gold and they may have no morals but we have one thing that the Lannister's don't, we have friends. Lord's from all over the realm will flock to help bring peace and when we outnumber Tywin ten to one we can end his ambitions. I will not give up, I will not rest until justice is served and if this monster can't stop me..." He said, turning to where Ser Gregor knelt in chains beside him and slamming his mailed boot into the Mountain's face causing him to crash onto the ground. "...Then I doubt that anything will."
The men all screamed and cheered. "Robb! Robb! ROBB!" They shouted getting louder and louder. Men slammed their gauntlets against their armoured chests and a huge thud boomed around the camp as they all did it simultaneously.
"Shall we?" Robb said, gesturing to the tent.
The congregation of lords and knights and generals all moved into the command tent where Jon stood sitting on the edge of one of the many tables he had pushed together to fit everybody.
"A rousing speech." Jon commented.
Robb rushed forward and yanked Jon into a hug, the two boys were embracing fro some time and smiling and laughing before Tyler cleared his throat and Robb turned to the waiting lords. "I apologise, please take your seats, we have much to discuss I am sure."
The men each found a seat and Tyler was naturally picking out cliques of friends as they all clamoured to sit next to a certain person. Robb sat Tyler to his left and Jon to his right and the lords and knights all looked at them in anticipation.
"I fear I am new to my lordship uncle, you will have to introduce your friends to me. Besides you Ser Stevron, and you Ser Hosteen, We met at the Twins of course." Robb said with as much courtesy as he could muster.
Edmure Tully smirked. "Of course Robb." He pointed to the men sitting at the table first. "This is Jason Mallister, Lord of Seagard; Patrek Mallister, his son, is a dear friend of mine and a formidable knight. To my right is Ser Marq Piper of Pinkmaiden, sent in the name of his father Lord Clement. This man is Lord Tytos Blackwood of Raventree, one of my father's most loyal bannermen. Jonos Bracken here is lord of Stone Hedge and a dear friend to my family. Ser Raymun Darry is a valiant knight from Castle Darry and William Mooton here is Lord of Maidenpool." Edmure finished quickly as each man nodded or smiled in turn.
"I look forward to fighting with all of you any friends to the Tullys are friends of the Starks." Robb said sincerely. "Why were you not here earlier?"
"As we told Lord Bolton when we arrive..." Jason Mallister began blurting out.
"Lord Bolton is not in command here, I am." Robb said, looking sideways at the brooding lord of the Dreadfort.
"Of course Lord Robb, my mistake." Jason said warily.
"He only meant to explain that Lord Tywin had sent a small troop of men to harass us along our march, it was clearly part of his strategy to capture you dear nephew." Edmure explained.
"Of course, he is a very clever strategist, but now you all are here and our numbers are almost doubled. He will not attempt anything so daring again. If it weren't for Tyler here this war would be lost already." The river lords all gazed over Tyler, silently judging him before Robb continued speaking. "We have the Mountain, I will send him into the city to my father for punishment."
Jon interjected politely. "Send Tyler to take him, Father sent a raven saying he needed you back in the city as soon as possible."
Tyler nodded quickly before Robb continued. "A sound idea, my brother Jon here is to be my second in command. As much as I trust you all, Jon is my brother and no trust runs deeper than blood. Tywin has disappeared, he does not know his plan has failed; he will try to reconnect with the Mountain by staging a battle near the Kingswood. It is the safest move for him he assumes that within the chaos his mad dog will come to him from the trees with me in chains, he will receive an entirely different welcome, he will no doubt already know that you fine men have joined us from the riverlands. It's an easy way to earn money in war if you watch everything around you and send ravens to the enemy. So you will be with the vanguard, he will not be expecting any surprises, Edmure will lead it as that is what Tywin will expect. Greatjon can pass as big enough to be the Mountain from a distance, we will ride out of the Kingswood with me in chains and plunge into their side, then they will know that their cause is doomed."
Tyler was impressed, Robb's voice was hard and strong and he had a certain joy oozing from his words that suggested his new found strategy was born from a need to pay Lord Tywin back for his capture. As the men congratulated him Tyler stood and whispered in Robb's ear. "I'll take Gregor back now. Could we talk outside for a second."
"I'll return shortly my lords." Robb said as he followed Tyler outside. "What's the problem?"
"Absolutely nothing, have no fear. I wanted to ask a favour." Tyler said slowly.
"I owe you a million favours." Robb said astounded.
"You owe me nothing. But Sandor Clegane is a lost soul, he needs to fight as his brother does but for different reasons. You will see what I mean when you have watched how he carries himself I assure you, let him fight for you. He has no harbouring loyalty to the Lannisters." Tyler said reassuringly.
Robb smiled. "Not much of a favour really. Of course I will, but you have vouched for him, if he does anything wrong it's your fault as much as his."
It was nightfall by the time that Tyler reached the Tower of the Hand. He had taken the Mountain to the black cells ready to be paraded in court the following day. He had seen Bronn leaving the Tower of the Hand with the last of the sellswords being paid. Bronn had asked if he still had need of his services but Tyler said that he could have a break for a few days and to seek him out at the beginning of the next week if he still wanted work. Tyler was exhausted as he climbed the steps, his leg was aching and his eyes were heavy. Now that he was back in the city he did not relish the moment that Ned chose to discuss why he had beaten Joffrey. Sansa had said nothing about it and made no mention whether she wanted her father to know or not, Tyler had naturally assumed not. Ned would punish him for losing his cool and treating the prisoners cruelly but if he knew why it might be different, but Tyler did not want to risk betraying Sansa's trust. He reached the set of rooms quickly and struggled up the steps, he dragged his feet over to his bed and fell onto the mattress, his sword hilt dug up into his ribcage when he landed.
"Fuck!" He yelped in pain. He jumped off it and wrenched his belt off tossing his weapons on the floor. He sat up with his head in his hands and unlaced his cloak, he dropped that to the floor and stood up stretching out.
He was about to remove his other clothes when he heard the door open once again. He swallowed nervously; I hope Ned doesn't want to talk now. He said, almost in prayer. As the footsteps ascended the stairs he saw a young, red-haired woman holding the bottom of her dress above the ground with one hand and a candle to see in the other. She was wearing a nightgown of white silk with a grey robe over top. The nightgown was low-cut and Tyler struggled to avert his eyes from Sansa's growing breasts as she approached.
"My lady, are you alright? Nothing happened again did..." He said as she moved beside him and put the candle on the bed and released her grip on the dress. She interrupted him by slithering her arms around the back of his neck and going on tip toes to plant a soft, loving kiss on his lips. Tyler was stunned, he had no idea what happening until he noticed his arms hanging lazily by his side and he grabbed her waist gently squeezing her soft skin. He closed his eyes and his lips found hers, her mouth opened this time and their tongues began dancing as they kissed each other passionately and furiously. Tyler felt like he was lost in a dream, he could feel only her lips and her tongue, nothing else existed to him, not the millions of people in the city outside or the soldiers in the camp, not his father nor young Rickon at home, only Sansa's kiss and the feel of her warm body in his hands. He moved one hand to play with her hair. No, we will both regret this. He thought as she suddenly began trying to lift his tunic over his head. He pulled back and she looked hurt for a while.
"Sansa, I want this more than anything in the world right now, but you are a lady." He reminded her. "You maidenhead is something for your husband to own." He said awkwardly.
"Of course." She said distantly. "I never meant to... you know."
"Aye, of course not, I knew that." He lied.
"Thank you." She said softly, pressing her body against his and kissing his lips tenderly.
"For what?"
"For what you did to Joffrey, as brutal as it was I was very thankful." She said quietly in his ear.
"He did more than enough to earn it Lady Sansa." Tyler said humbly.
"I wonder if you might start referring to me as my love. I think it far more suitable." She said nervously, with a giggle.
"Of course, my love." He said, lifting her off of her feet and kissing her deeply once more. "Now get to bed, before you make me do something we will both regret."
They kissed three more times before she finally left and Tyler lay his head down on the pillow, his exhaustion escaped from him. He sighed and fell into some very comforting dreams.