Hello everyone.

For those who haven't read the books, the Battle of Green Fork was fought between Stark infantry forces commanded by Lord Roose BOlton and the main Lannister army under Tywin Lannister. The Starks lost the battle, but didn't suffer any huge loss except for the death and capture of some commanders. This battle was fought with the river Green Fork on one side on the other sides were hills.

The TV show version sucked big time where Robb Stark sent 2000 men as a diversion. This force was totally annihilated by Tywin.

But this time, the Starks have sent way more men to fight Tywin Lannister, along with more cavalry and a loyal and aggressive commander.

Chapter 14

Sun of Winter

They may be two different houses, but Starks and Karstarks shared blood ties since centuries. They were kin, and there was no greater bond than this. That was probably why Lord Eddard Stark gave the command of his army to Rickard Karstark, rejecting other battle commanders like Roose Bolton and Galbart Glover, and also the fact that Rickard and Ned went way back. They had fought together in two great wars.

Right now Rickard Karstark's mind was buzzing with thoughts as he was marching down the Kingsroad along with other commanders; Wylis Manderly and Halys Hornwood and his 3 sons. His thoughts were making him unaware of what his two sons were talking beside him, but from what little he had heard, he figured that they were also thinking the same thing he was thinking.

His force was 23,000 strong; 22,000 foot consisting of swordsmen, archers and pikemen; and 1,000 horse; with 300 of what one could call heavy cavalry among them. This force was too large to be a diversion force, as his rivals has relished in calling it back at Moat Coalin. Tywin Lannister had about 25,000 men, but he had 8 times more cavalry than him, not to mention way more armored knights which would be the main strength of House Lannister in this battle.

'What would Tywin Lannister be thinking,' he asked himself. He would be expecting the whole northern host of 30,000 to hit his own 25,000; and would be having shrewd plans of his own for the Northerners. However, the many of the complexions of his plans may be negated out of haste if Rickard steals a night's march on him. Somehow he had to make sure that at any cost they shouldn't be discovered by Lannister army until they at their doorstep.

A crunching noise from below distracted him. He looked down and saw a partridge's nest broken under his horse's hooves, along with the eggs.

Eddard laughed, "not a good sign before the fight, eh father," he chortled. But Rickard wasn't paying attention. Thought were appearing in his mind,, thoughts that weren't there before.

"Halt," he shouted, making his host stop.

All the commanders gathered. "

"We will make our battle plans here. Torrhen," he called his other son, whom he considered was the smarter one of the three. "I have a task for you."

Moonless nights were a bitch for the scouts. Even though it wasn't one of them, one could still not call it a well lit one. The crescent moon didn't do much illumination.

A crimson cloaked young scout stood atop a hill with his two comrades, looking towards the North along the Kingsroad, searching for any movements with his ears. Eyes were useless in such darkness, and power of listening did most of the work.

He strained his eyes hard, looking for any signs of movement. He had been taught that while the army wears chain mail or plate armor, the infiltrators usually wear goat pelts to avoid light being reflected off their body.

That was exactly what the Stark infiltrators were wearing that nights, who were doing their job assigned to them pretty noiselessly, right under the nose of the young scouts.

'This is useless,' the scout thought. 'No one is coming up here in the dead of the night. The outriders will be out before dawn, and besides I should get some sleep.. The battle might be tomorrow. I need to save my strength.' He shared his thoughts with others, who all agreed and descended from the hill.

Perhaps the gods had granted them more days to live, or not. About an hour or two after they had descended, the hill was overrun by men in black shrouds. "That went well," Torrhen Karstark remarked, and the Karstark men hid themselves among the bushes of the hill.

The outriders of House Lannister knew their job, ride along the Kingsroad and look for any signs of the enemy host. It was still night, but the outriders were warned that sometimes the enemy tries to steal a night's march on them. The weather was pleasant, and they rode fast, enjoying the cold wind striking their faces.

And then out of nowhere, they were falling.

"They are here my lord," the squire came running to Ser Adam Marbrand.

Ser Marbrand awoke with a start. 'Already,' he thought. 'I had heard they were a day's march away.'

But of course they stole a night's march. He gave a small laugh, and grimaced on noticing his morning breathe. "How many," he asked the squire gruffly.

"The scouts say they are about 25,000, and mostly foot and about 1000 horse. They are less than a half mile from here."

This got him angry, "and you are waking me up now," he raged.

"No one discovered them my lords. None of the outriders returned. They were probably killed by the Starks."

Marbrand shook his head. Scouts and outriders killed. This can't be Ned Stark's work. He has probably got the Blackfish with him, or some other damned knight.

"Any news from Riverrun," he asked.

"No my lord."

This was looking grimmer and grimmer. "Bring me some water, and then my sword and armor."

Ser Kevan hurriedly walked out of his tent and was greeted by the Mountain being rebuked by his brother, who was fully armored.

"Go and ask Ser Marbrand to lead the the armored knights in the front lines, and you will be among them." he almost shouted at Mountain, who cowered under the piercing gaze of Tywin Lannister.

"Why the knights in front brother," Kevan asked.

"They say they are bringing an infantry host. For now this is the best move."

Lord Rickard Karstark looked at the battle formations infront of him, and laughed loudly. This was exactly what he had expected. Killing the outriders would have been a hard job, but it became easy once his trap was set, and worked splendidly even in the dark hours of night. The knights iwith their long lances and glittering armor were all set in the front lines, and collectively looked like a steel fist.

But Lord Karstark knew how to break this fist.

Rickard wore his iron helm along with the other commanders. "Charge," he bellowed, and his army rushed forward, his 1000 horses first followed by the foot.

"Has Stark lost his wits after gaining one trick on us," Tywin Lannister said as he looked at the unfolding battle from top a hill. "No matter how hard that army charges, they can never defeat my charging knights."

No reply came from his men, though he wasn't expecting one. These men were followers, devoid of any strategic thought in their heads.

Archer fired from both sides, killing Starks and Lannisters respectively. Tywin eyes scanned the battlefield in bewilderment, and then something happened that he had never expected.

'Seven hells,' they had fallen into a trap.

Kevan Lannister already had the taste of victory on his lips, as he stood watching Stark infantry charging against the armored Lannister. 'Is this the best you can do wolves,' he thought. It was then he noticed that Stark army had suddenly slowed down their charge. 'What in seven hells they think they are doing.'

And then, a moment later, everything was chaos.

It appeared as if an invisible force had hit the charging cavalry from in front. With a loud neigh of their horses, almost whole lines of the cavalry went down, one after another, and those who didn't go down stumbled over those who had. The Lannisters were stunned, until they were brought back to life by the whistling sound of arrows being fired at the fallen cavalry from the adjoining hill, and the sight of infantry charging down it. Only the last two lines of knights returned back unscathed to regroup.

"Charge," Kevan shouted hastily, and his 300 knights and the whole of Lannister cavalry rushed forwards infantry rushed forwards. He knew exactly what had happened to his cavalry, and this won't happen again.

'Caltrops,' Tywin knew the instant he saw the whole commotion. He knew that almost all of his heavy cavalry has been rendered useless. "We need to move," Tywin Lannister commanded his host. "Let us skin these wolves. The spikes may have broken his knights, but now they won't be problem any longer.

"You," he told a knight, "take 600 horse with you and kill those damned archers on the hill."

Stark swordmen was slaughtering the fallen Lannister cavalry, and the bowmen on the hill had turned their attention to the charging reminder of Lannister army. So far, Rickard's plans had worked splendidly.

Another battalion of Lannister knights was rushing towards the commotion, which also included those who had survived the caltrops.

They ran faster, hoping to meet the enemy before they reach and overwhelm their swordsmen who were busy killing the fallen knights.

Clegane rose from his fallen horse, and soon discovered the cause of their fall. The whole land was strewn with iron spikes, which had gotten into the horses' feet. "Cravens," he shouted, and was soon cut off when he was surrounded that he was surrounded by five Stark swordsmen. Gregor laughed a booming laugh and threw himself on them.

Soon all five of them were lying dead at his feet. The Mountain then pulled out his enormous greatsword and started hacking his way way through the wolves.

Suddenly he heard a rumble, and turned to see the larger remains of Stark army charging on them. A horse came on him and knocked him down. The rider descended and brought his war hammer down on Clegane's strength with all his strength. Clegane tried to stop him, but his hand only got in the way of the powerful blow.

"I killed the Mountain," shouted his assilant, and that was the last thing Gregor Clegane heard before he fainted.

"I killed the Mountain," Harrion Karstark shouted while brandishing the Mountain's head on a spike. 'This was not good,' Kevan thought. The Mountain was a fearsome symobol of the Lannister army, and his very presence not only boosted his army but also intimidated the opposition.

He continued cutting down Stark horsemen and infantry, waiting desperately for his brother to arrive.

He did arrive after a while. Tywin Lannister didn't bring as many horses as he had, which he realized were sent to deal with the archers on the hill.

The heartless Lannister soldiers again gained hope on seeing their commander, and fought more fiercely, but the damage was done. They had lost many of their knights, and the Starks had more infantry than the Lannisters.

"Fall back," he heard someone among the Northerners shout, and soon enough the wolves were falling back. 'This could work,' he thought, but he wondered why they were falling back. There was a small chance of the Starks turning craven. May be they want to regroup.

Rickard was taking immense pride in his whole battle scheme. While falling back, Stark army was thinner and less in number along the river bank. The Lannister fools took his bait.

"Chase after them," he heard Tywin shout, and the Lannisters chased them, obedient to the core. Kevan had lost his horse, and was not able to see ahead. "No," he heard his brother shout frantically, "stay away from the river. AWAY FROM THE RIVER!"

Kevan couldn't see what was happening, so he decided to fall back to his brother and get a horse from there.

"Move," he commanded one of the Lannister cavalry, who gave his horse to him. The sight that greeted him was not a welcome one at all.

A large part of Lannister infantry was flanked by the Stark army, and were being pushed towards the flowing river. A number of soldiers were falling in the river.

"No! Fall back," he shouted; and was followed by same command of other battle commanders.

"We have to move Kevan," Tywin Lannister shouted. "Fall back to the Ruby Ford. TO THE RUBY FORD."

For the first time in his life, Tywin Lannister was losing a battle.

I don't know about this one. Many people had suggested that the Starks can win it with their numbers. The aftermath and loose ends will be covered in the next chapter.

Please Please DO Tell me what you think.