Game of Thrones: In The Heart of the Storm

Chapter 21 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 21: Battle of Moat Cailin – Part 5

Riding through the gloom, Meryn led his forces to the supply depot. But he soon stopped and pulled up his horse, eyes wide with horror behind the visor of his helmet.

'Flames, the supplies...that fool Hollard, did he…?' Meryn thought angrily.

He urged his men onwards, hoping to find anything to salvage from the mess. As he did so, he spotted a moderately sized troop of men making their way in the opposite direction.

"Hold there." He called out; seeing them wearing the Lannister colours. "What has happened here?"

Disguising his voice, Gallart replied. "The Northerners launched a night raid; we tried to fight them off, our leader, Ser Dontos has been slain and we were worsted in battle."

Meryn cursed. "Dead, curses, follow this path back to our camp, I'll go and see if anyone or anything is left."

He began to lead his forces towards the burning remains of the supply depot. Gallart led his forces past Meryn's men until they had all passed then wheeled about, removing their helmets to further aid their allies in identifying them, despite the risks involved.

"Meryn Trant, your head is mine!" Gallart shouted.

With that his men attacked, falling on the rear of the enemy forces. Taken by surprise many were killed before they could fight back.

"Hold fast, kill those fools!" Meryn snapped.

He worked to get his men into order, but then many torches were suddenly lit and emerged from the nearby forest, banners raising; two in particular stood out, one was the Stark's Direwolf banner, the other was black and yellow, like the Baratheon sigil, only the background was black and instead of a stag, there was a yellow bull upon it.

These of course belonged to Arya and Gendry respectively and they were at the head of their ambush troops, launching the attack and sending Meryn's forces into chaos. Gallart's forces continued their attack and the enemy were caught between two armies, panicking the men hardly put up a fight and were slaughtered. Arya found herself duelling Meryn, he snarled as he attempted to attack her, but she ducked.

"Cursed bitch, you don't belong here!" He bellowed. "I'll make you regret ever setting foot on the battlefield; this is a place for MEN!"

Arya deftly cut twice, injuring Meryn through gaps between his armour. "Then how come my forces are winning, under my leadership; I think I do belong here."

"Bitch!"

Meryn attacked and a horrible screeching was heard as his blade cut along Arya's helmet, only narrowly avoiding any serious damage to her face, although a long cut formed above her right eyebrow, just missing her eye and continuing down to her cheekbone.

Thankfully it wasn't deep and Arya responded swiftly. Wasting no words or time she thrust Needle through an unexpected gap and pierced Meryn through the throat, downwards. He choked and went stiff and, as she pulled the blade free, he fell from the saddle, dead.

The rest of his forces all perished too, save those who surrendered and were made prisoner. Satisfied with their victory and with the supply camp now nothing more than ashes, Arya led her victorious forces back to Moat Cailin.

By dawn they were back and secured again, despite the exhaustion they felt, they celebrated well with their colleagues who told of the attack on Moat Cailin and how it was repelled; Dacey revealed that the bait and switch ambush trap had been devised by Tyrion and Arya explained how Tyrion's words about the supply depot were true.

Their distrust gone, the Northerners welcomed and congratulated Tyrion for his efforts, meanwhile, after securing the allegiance of many of the surrendered soldiers, Arya decided to release Dontos back to Joffrey, still bound.

The other prisoners, soldiers that would not join them, were simply let loose and ran, likely trying to find their way back home. Dontos was sent out of Moat Cailin's gates, which closed behind him and left to make his way, hopelessly bound, back to Joffrey's camp.

Joffrey sat in his tent, outraged.

"Twenty days, twenty days we've been here, fighting these barbarians and still they won't budge." He raged. "This is unacceptable, how dare you not put the effort in. We should have crushed these bugs and been on our way back home with our captive on the first day, or at least the first week!"

His commanders said nothing, remaining silent.

"Your Grace!"

All eyes turned as a messenger arrived and bowed. "The supply depot, it...it's been destroyed, burned to the ground, Ser Meryn and his men are all slain and word is, Ser Dontos failed to defend it due to his drinking..."

"That wretched fool!" Joffrey yelled. "How is this, my uncle, he has gone over to them, that's how they did it; it's the only way they'd be smart enough to do something like this…!"

He stopped however, outraged when he saw the stricken Dontos return.

"You dare...You dare return!"

"Your Grace, I..." Dontos began.

Joffrey shook his head. "I've heard enough, take his head!"

Nobody raised their voice in protest and Dontos was dragged out to his death; meanwhile, adding to Joffrey's anger, despite sending an army to attack the undefended location, Moat Cailin still stood in Northern hands and the situation hadn't changed from before.

Some time later; Mandon approached the tent, Joffrey was drinking from a goblet and still enraged.

"What do you want?" He snapped.

Mandon; desperate to save face since attacking Moat Cailin was his plan, said. "We have no supplies, our army is without food and we could not capture Moat Cailin. All errors have been accounted for, save Moat Cailin."

"Your plan I believe."

"My plan..." Mandon remarked. "Counted on Podrick Payne and the Hound actually putting the effort to fight in, rather than simply wasting time protesting and then not bothering to try when they were attacked."

Joffrey leapt to his feet at this. "This goes too far, that weakling Payne, I expected that, but for that dog to betray me like this, send a messenger to bring them back here...They will die for this."

Mandon bowed and left; he told the nearest messenger to go to where Sandor and Podrick had been sighted, trying to recover before returning. He told the messenger to make up an excuse to lure them back, but not to say the truth as to why they were wanted back.

The messenger duly left and Mandon felt safe once more, the blame for his failure passed on.

Back in Moat Cailin; Arya smiled as she sat with the Northern Lords, everybody assembled for another council. Following their celebration of victory, Arya sent reports to Robb and her father, as well as an important message for Robb. She sent a similar message to her uncle Edmure too.

"Lord Bolton." She said at last. "I believe now is the time, our victory is at hand, even with the enemy army still so large. Let us see if you saw my plan clearly."

Roose stood up, allowing himself a thin smile he explained. "Lady Arya's plan was in truth, somewhat simple, but all the more effective because of that. Joffrey Baratheon led his forces to attack us, directly, seeking his foolish vengeance. He neglected to attack or secure any lands between the Crownlands and here..."

That brought whispers from the others and Roose continued.

"As a result, anyone coming to his aid from the Crownlands, or Westerlands, or any allied land, would have to cross hostile territory, this means his supply lines were over-extended and under siege. It's a long way from the capital to Moat Cailin after all." He paused; letting that sink in. "By stopping here, rather than going to face him and by refusing to pursue him further south, closer to King's Landing, Lady Arya forced Joffrey Baratheon to have this over-extended supply line, limiting what supplies he could receive and now, with his only supply camp burned, he is in dire straits, with a very large, very hungry army."

Arya grinned and nodded. "I couldn't have summed it up better myself."

There were cheers and shouts, many of the Northern Lords, now realizing the truth, appreciated Arya's plan and any doubts in their mind about her capabilities were resolved. Arya had won their respect.

Recuperating from their defeat, Sandor and Pod sat in a nearby clearing, the remnants of their army and horses, around them. Just then they heard the sound of a lone rider and both stood up, watching as one of Joffrey's messengers approached them. Dismounting the man stepped up to them, bowing his head.

"His Grace summons you back to camp; he is gathering his forces for another attack and needs everybody."

Pod bit his lip. "What of the supply camp; we heard it was in trouble before we were sent to fight."

The messenger shook his head. "I was only ordered to bring you back to camp for the next attack."

Sandor paused for a moment and then asked. "Who gave you the order to come get us."

"Ser Mandon."

Nodding Sandor replied. "I see; very well, you go first, we'll follow."

The messenger turned and went to mount his horse; at which point Sandor drew his sword and killed him right there, shocking everyone present.

"S-Ser…?"

Rounding on Pod Sandor snarled. "I'm no Ser; Mandon sent us to attack, we failed and he's trying to save face, we go back we'll be killed before we even say a word."

"But, but then, what can we do?" Pod asked helplessly, realizing this was true.

Sandor shrugged. "Follow the Imp's example, go over to the Starks."

Pod was shocked at how casually he said it, but agreed, there didn't seem to be any other choice, so they gathered their forces and began to leave, heading for Moat Cailin.

Arya stood looking worriedly out of the window as Gendry stood by her side.

"The snow is even heavier now...What if it gets so bad we can't get back home after finishing the battle?"

Gendry squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "We'll make it Arry, I have faith we will."

She smiled and turned to him, grinning, they moved closer, about to kiss when the door burst open.

"My Lady!" The messenger shouted, making them jump apart. "The defeated forces of Sandor Clegane and Podrick Payne are approaching Moat Cailin, they fly the white flag."

Gendry voiced his surprise at this. "They come to surrender, to us?"

By now several other Northern Lords had gathered outside the room.

Arya nodded slowly. "I see, very well, I will meet with them."

"What, my Lady, please." Maege cried. "After such a great victory, to take such a risk."

Lord Flint nodded. "Agreed, this is a trick, surely, why would Joffrey's dog come to our side?"

"For fear of his life?" Arya replied. "It matters not if it's a trick, I will win them over, even if it is."

She knew after all that Pod had been friendly to Sansa and that Sandor had protected her as best he could from the abuses she suffered. She met with the two commanders at the gates and let them in, welcoming them with a small feast, relieved by her kindness they officially swore service to the North, along with their army, building the numbers of the Northern army, but not an extent that supplies would be a problem for them.

Arya hoped whatever they didn't use in this campaign could be added to the supplies still gathered around the North and provide enough food for Winter.

Meanwhile, Joffrey's camp was in shambles due to the lack of food. Joffrey himself was fuming at this and even more so as men began to die or desert, despite his efforts to maintain discipline by having those deserters killed.

"Your Grace!" Janos burst in, panicked.

"What now?" He snarled.

Janos quickly explained. "The Tully army has arrived, they are moving to attack us, what's more, the Freys are moving to blockade the river crossing, if we don't retreat now, we'll be trapped here."

Joffrey let loose a shout of rage, upending the table and upsetting his wine goblet. Nevertheless he agreed and began the retreat. With Arya's attack on the supply depot having been the signal, the Tully's, Freys and Robb's forces began moving in, with Arya getting her forces ready to move too.

Sure enough, when Joffrey's forces began to retreat, Arya's forces attacked them and killed many, further reducing them, they got away but Arya called a break in the pursuit; it was time to finish this true, but another matter needed attending to. She stood before the captive Ser Preston who had been left behind in the confusion.

"Had Joffrey listened to you, I may well be on the gallows in King's Landing about to hang by now." Arya said to him. "But he didn't and has treated you poorly, but we..."

"Spare me your words. I am of the Kingsguard, my loyalty is to the throne and I swore an oath that I will never break." Preston shot back.

Arya sighed, she expected this, despite her hopes otherwise.

Using Dacey's axe when it was offered, as expected of a Stark, Arya carried out the deed herself and gave Ser Preston Greenfield an honourable death. Following this, while the rest of the army prepared, Gendry approached Arya who stood a distance away.

"Arry...It's alright to feel this way." He told her.

Her hand was trembling and she was clearly troubled.

She looked at him and he clarified. "If we stop being troubled by death...then we have become monsters, this shows you're still human."

She managed a shaky smile and returned to the army with Gendry by her side, ready for the final push.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.