Game of Thrones: A Wolf Comes Home

Chapter 21 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Yeah, good job there; for all the good it does them. Yeah, good for Sandor too.
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; yeah, glad you enjoyed Arya getting free and Sansa being saved.
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks :)
C Elise: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

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

Robb

Once he was back in his tent, with his army all ready and waiting; Robb Stark sighed.

'I have to act fast; Jeyne, Sansa and Arya are depending on me.' He thought desperately to himself.

Keeping himself composed he sat up straight and observed the people who stood before him. He could still scarcely believe that the ragged man before him, missing fingers and toes and having Gods knows how many injuries, was Theon. Jeyne Poole stood next to him, almost holding him up. Robb consider it a miracle, especially since Jeyne looked so frail, almost unable to stay standing herself. Brienne stood next them, steadier on her feet.

"Brienne." Robb stated quickly. "Ramsay told me about his plans for you; he informed me that he already ensured you were…taken through the castle."

Brienne nodded. "Yes Your Grace, I…"

Robb sighed and then explained. "I know it must have been harrowing, but I need you to try and remember what you saw…fortifications, the layout of the Dreadfort…anything like that, it will help us when we get inside."

Brienne nodded in understanding and began to detail what she had seen; she now understood why King Robb Stark had bargained for her release, rather than that of his sisters. With what she knew, he could get inside Dreadfort and act quickly to rescue them. However that still left him with one difficulty, how to get inside. Trying to attack would give those inside ample time to move or even kill the hostages.

Robb was aware of these dangers however he still had hope. There was a possible solution to that danger, enabling them to act without putting the hostages in too much danger. He turned to Theon noting how he and Jeyne were barely able to stand.

"This won't take long I promise, then you can both rest." He reassured them. "Now…I understand Theon that someone named…Reek, helped my brother Bran escape Dreadfort when he and Meera Reed were trapped here."

Theon nodded. "Yes, that, that was me."

"How did you help them, how did you get them out?" Robb asked.

Theon took a deep breath and then explained. "There's a secret passage, it, it's in the room they hold the torture equipment. It leads right outside the castle. They took it and got to safety."

"Yet you didn't?" Robb queried.

"I had to close it behind them. I was going to use it myself, until I heard they were trapped, I felt they deserved to escape, I deserved my fate."

Jeyne shook her head. "Theon, don't, you…"

Robb however was quicker. "No one deserves what happened to you Theon. Could this passage also be used to get into the castle?"

Theon nodded and that was all Robb needed to hear, he quickly formed his plan. He spoke to his army and soon everything was ready. The men knew what to expect inside; despite his advice to the contrary, Brienne insisted on fighting in the battle too.

Robb soon sat on his horse; Brienne and Gendry on either side of him. They were all prepared for battle, Robb just needed to put on his helmet and draw his sword. Sandor and a small group of soldiers were following Theon's directions and had found the secret passage, they just needed to wait for the gates to open then they could charge. Suddenly he noticed movement, coming from where Sandor and his men had gone. He turned his head and saw two of his soldiers. The reason for their return was clear when Robb saw, to his relief; they were escorting his beloved wife to safety. Jeyne Westerling looked up and her eyes widened when she saw Robb; he smiled at her and nodded and she relaxed and allowed herself to be led to the camp where Theon and Jeyne Poole still were, being treated and fed by the camp followers. Turning his attention back to the battle, Robb tensed as the gates opened. He secured his helmet and drew his sword before giving the order, they charged in at full speed, taking the Dreadfort men by surprise. As he fought, Robb could see Sandor leading Sansa out of the castle and to safety. He noted she was wrapped in a cloak and felt rage spike in him as that cloak indicated she had been stripped of her clothing. He fought on, taking down any Bolton soldier that got too close to him.

He dismounted and continued to fight on foot. Nearby Gendry and Brienne were holding their own too. Taken completely off guard the Bolton men could only put up a token resistance. The Starks soon took control of the courtyard and parts of the army split off to take control of other areas. The main unit of the army however, began to surround the main castle. At that moment Roose Bolton emerged, clad in armour and bearing his weapon. His pale eyes blazed as he regarded the situation.

"So it comes down to this, King of the North." He remarked coldly, glaring at Robb.

Robb raised his sword, ready to fight. "So it would seem; at least die with some honour, Lord Bolton. Fight me, just the two of us, face to face."

Roose snorted and shook his head. "It seems I have little choice."

He stepped forward and the duel began. Both men know how each other fought and their fighting was cautious. They circled each other, occasionally clashing blades, but they were able to block and parry each other's strikes all too well. Finally it came down to luck; Robb got a lucky strike and Roose dropped to his knees, injured. He looked up briefly at Robb, but said nothing. Robb quickly struck again, finishing him off. They immediately took the fight inside the castle and fought their way through it. Finally they reached the last room; any Bolton soldier that attacked them was swiftly put down, the servants were quickly ferried out; many of them only too glad to escape the Dreadfort.

Robb, with only Gendry and Brienne at his side by now, burst into the last room. They froze at the sight before them as they realized what they had found. Ramsay lay dead on his bed, stabbed repeatedly; the room was a completely mess; but Arya was nowhere to be found.

"Arya, that monster said he had her here." Gendry growled, looking around. "Where is she?"

Brienne cautiously approached the body and verified Ramsay was dead.

She was shocked. "Did, do you think Princess Arya did this?"

Robb nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised; Arya's a good fighter; strong and capable. She's deadly at the best of times, I can only imagine how dangerous she'd be, backed into a corner."

It was then they spotted the makeshift rope, Robb leaned out the window and peered down.

"She climbed out. She must have landed in that hay bale. Footprints, she was chased into the woods."

Robb stepped back and nodded to them, they had to hurry. So they left Dreadfort and Robb gave his instructions. His men would ensure that the Boltons and their supporters would be unable to rise again. The rescued women would have any injuries and other issues such as food and such seen too. Meanwhile, Robb and Gendry planned to lead a small group of men into the woods in search of Arya and the men pursuing her.

As they hurried to the woods; Robb ruefully noted that once the men in the woods were dealt with, the Boltons would be destroyed and those that had brought chaos to the north would be all dead. Finally he had not only reclaimed the north but had returned peace to it, freeing it from war. There were still other messes to clear up true, but there were no more threats from armies within the north attacking his family.

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