Ninth Month of 683 B.C. Outside Trident Keep
Lord Walys Mooton
The war for the regency of King Tristifer VII Teague had been waging for a year now, and there had been various victories and various defeats for all the different factions that were part of it all. The Tullys had retreated back to Riverrun and called their men back to Riverrun, the Brackens and the Blackwoods were smashing each other to pieces and were on their last legs, House Frey was caught up in a war with the cranongmen as always and the Darrys were now the only true threat left to Walys' objectives of obtaining the regency. Edmure Teague and his nephews of the Bloody Gate had done nothing as of yet to suggest they would act in this war, and now Walys had both the Pipers and the Mallisters on his side and his host was growing stronger and stronger by the day. The Durrandons were lending him aid as well, soon enough he would have enough men to take the keep and rule the Riverlands.
"My lord," His Brother Ser Edmond's voice interrupted his musings. "There has been word from the scouts. It would appear that we are now closing in on the Darrys."
Walys nodded and then asked. "How close are we to taking them by surprise?"
His brother was silent a moment and then said. "We are about an hour's march from them and their host. Lord Darry has placed men out on the outpost to the north and the south, Ser Balon Swann should have taken care of them by the time we get to the eastern side though. And Lord Jeffrey Mallister is pushing towards the southern bank."
Walys nodded. "This is good, very good. Keep up the good work Edmond and let me know when it comes time for battle to begin."
His brother nodded and then rode onward, leaving Walys to his thoughts. He knew that if he were successful defeating the Darrys then more than likely the gates of Trident Keep would open and things would go slightly more smoothly from there. He and Catelyn had always gotten on well, hells they would have been husband and wife had damn Tristifer Teague not had her married off to his damnable grandson. They had known each other since they were little children and her father had been keen on a match but then the fool had died and all had gone wrong. No matter he would right that wrong and rule the riverlands in her son's name and then he would bring the power and strength back to House Mooton and they would rule all of Westeros.
Soon enough his brother returned and Walys prepared for yet another battle in what had been a long war. He drew himself up to his full height, the men knew who was leading what part of the army, he was commanding the van as always, Lord Mallister was commanding the left, Lord Piper was commanding the right, the centre was commanded by Lord Swann and the reserve was commanded by Walys' own uncle old Ser Hubert, a veteran of the wars of the fish. Walys roared a command and then the battle truly began, it was evident the Darrys were still trying to deal with Balon Swann and his men, for they were scattered all over the place and were not organised as they often were. Walys swung his hammer left and right, bringing men down as he rode, he rode down some of the men laughing as he went on, swinging and crushing, swinging and crushing. Men fell down to the ground on and on it went the battle roaring onward as Walys' blood sung with the heat of battle.
On the battle went Walys swung his hammer again and again and the body count grew, they were winning the Darrys were too stretched to truly be able to do anything of use, they were weakening and Walys knew that with one big push Lord Darry and his men would either surrender or die. "Take them hard and fast!" He roared and the push began again, swinging and hammering away on and on it went, swinging and hammering, more and more men died more and more blood was added to his hammer, and his blood sang. No one was able to touch him not today, it was as if the warrior himself was with Walys today, swinging and hammering away crushing men on and on.
The Darrys fought back hard, not budging an inch as Walys and the van pushed onward into the centre of their host where he knew Lord Darry would be, more and more men appeared out of the crevices and hideaways and the fighting Walys watched from atop his horse as his men began falling like flies, Walys himself began taking more and more blows as the men, clearly the best fighters in Darrys army came pouring out and hacking and slashing at him. He took blow after blow his armour beginning to weigh heavily on him, and yet he still moved forward swinging his hammer and bringing it down like thunder on those who came in his path.
On and on the fighting went, and Walys began ploughing through it as if operating automatically, on he swung on and on and still more men came and still they died. Eventually the ploughman of House Darry was beaten and broken, Lord Darry's head adorned a spike and his army was nothing anymore, Walys rode to the gate of Trident Keep and lifted his helm and roared. "Open the gates, open the gates of Trident Keep to the new Regent of the Riverlands! Open the gates and you shall be spared fire and steel!"
There was silence for a very long moment and then a figure appeared at the top of the battlements, and Walys felt his breathe leave his body, she still looked as beautiful as she had all those years ago. "Lord Mooton, thank you for removing the Darrys from our gates. However, you should know better than to threaten your King with death when you wish to help him rule."
Walys smiled and said slyly. "Well then I beg my king's forgiveness but I do think we should speak about what should happen now."
Catelyn looked at him briefly and then said. "Very well. Raise the gates and I shall speak with you."