Rickard VI – Battle of the Green Fork
Rickard was at war once more, his life felt like one war after another death and destruction, violence and slaughter that was what his life had become; his only hope was that this would be his last.
The northern army had broken in two only yesterday he was given command of the entire northern foot, all the mammoths brought south and less that 500 horse. The plan that Robb Stark had come up with was smart he couldn't deny that but Rickard meant to end this war as quick as possible and to do that he would need to take some risks.
"Rick are you sure this is wise if we leave then you will have no cavalry to go against Tywin Lannister" he looked to his friend Jon Cuy then thinking carefully on what he had said.
"Jon I need you to do this win or lose Tywin Lannister will know his only option will be to regroup at Harrenhal from there he will be able to attack the Riverlands at will I mean to not give him that option, ride hard and fast around the western host and secure the castle Lady Whent will be more than willing to help" Rickard commanded his friend and watched as he and 500 others rode off.
He looked at the commanders he had left to him most were good and proven warriors and hoped that they were good enough. They had marched hard for a day and night to reach the banks of the Green Fork where they would face off against 30000 Lannister soldiers.
Looking out across the field he could see the full force that he was going to face and thought back to the night before where he met with his commanders going over the battle plan.
"Thurmond you will command the mammoths I want them spread out evenly along the front line is that clear" he told his most recent bannerman who agreed more than willingly longing to repay Rickard for all that he had given him. "Ser Wylis you will command the left, Lord Cerwyn you have control of the right, Lord Hornwood you have the centre and myself I will command the Van. Lord Ryder you have the reserve." he spoke in a way which left no room for argument so all his men merely nodded.
Their night time march had done what he hoped he could see the Lannisters scrambling to make ready. Rickard gave the nod and the horns were blown and his men let out a fierce and ear shattering roar hearing this the mammoths roared causing the very ground to shake and Rickard gave a small smile imaging the fear the Lannister men must be feeling.
He took his axe from his back and lifted it high in the air signalling to move, the mammoths went first followed closely behind was Rickard and his vanguard over 3000 men a mixture of archers and pikemen.
Rickard could see the western cavalry moving towards them now being lead by the monster that was Gregor Clegane. They were in range now he could see the faces of thousands of men riding against him, arrow were shot on either side Rickard heard the screams of men dying before the two hosts finally met.
He watched as hundreds of the enemy cavalry were swatted from side to side by the mammoths who were stampeding through everything in their paths. Those enemy cavalry that did manage to get through the mammoths were brought down by his pike men and archers. Rickard ducked and dived avoiding every blow that came his way.
He brought down his first man who wore the Swyft Rooster with a single stroke to the chest killing the man immediately. He carried on bringing men down to his left and right looking for the man that deserved to die all those years ago and in the corner of his eye he saw the mountain that was Clegane cleaving men in two with his giant great sword.
He turned his horse towards the man and rode hard wanting to kill the man that raped and murdered women and children. Before reaching the man his horse took an arrow and fell to the ground bringing Rickard with him luckily he managed to tumble free before being crushed under the weight of his warhorse.
Jumping to his feet he drew his sword in his other hand and brought down the archer that killed his horse with a quick trust to the stomach. He looked around once more to gather his surroundings and saw his target once more. The mountain had lost his horse also and was swinging through men like they were nothing slowly making his way towards Rickard.
The two men met with a clash of steel Clegane's strength driving Rickard back pushing him to go on the defensive. He was waiting for his opening trying to find any weakness he could exploit but saw none. The giant sword came straight towards his side but luckily he was able to block it using both his sword and axe. Pushing against one another he could feel his body weakening barely holding on.
He mustered all his strength and pushed hard making the mountain move ever so slightly but it was all he needed. With his sword blocking high he swept low with his axe meeting armour then flesh then bone. The mountain fell down with a scream his mangled leg not strong enough to bear his weight any longer.
Rickard stood over the man he had wanted punished for over sixteen years and with one final move he drove his sword deep into the man's neck. He watched as Clegane spat up blood and the colour drained from his face before finally falling down lifeless.
"Frost" Rickard turned and saw Ser Kevin Lannister riding towards him with a spear in his hand. He prepared for an attack that never came as Lannister was brought down by an arrow hitting his horse. Rickard looked and saw a red haired spearwife with a bow in her hand and a smile on her face he nodded at her before ordering two of his men to take a now unconscious Kevin Lannister to the rear.
Taking a breath Rickard looked around the battlefield and could see that his men had broken the Lannister centre and he hoped that the rest of the battle was going the same way.
His thoughts were answered when one of his men came to his side and spoke "we have complete control of the centre my lord, our right is driving the Lannisters into the banks of the river and Ser Wylis is pushing back the left now that the reserves have joined him"
"My lord look" the man shouted pointing out.
He looked where the man was pointing and was both horrified and delighted with what he was seeing the mammoths were stampeding free crushing everything in their way the ground was running red with the blood of thousands of Lannister soldiers.
"My lord the enemy they are retreating" Rickard looked at where Magner Thenn was pointing and was pleased to see that Tywin Lannister was indeed retreating, It appeared his losses were too great.
A bloodied Wylis Manderly came to his side then "my lord do we follow and finish off the enemy" the fat heir of White Harbour asked.
He looked to his left and right looking at his bloodied and tired men before responding "no we regroup and tend to the wounded Tywin Lannister has nowhere to go now he will have to retreat to the Crownlands"
He looked at the men who were close to him now and thought carefully before speaking "Harrion take 1000 of our men and secure the front" Rickard ordered the heir of Karhold.
"Ser Wylis ensure that all prisoners are safe and under guard I want a full list of what highborn hostages we have. Lord Long I want a count of the dead both ours and theirs. Thurmond assist him I want to know how many of the free folk were lost and gain control of the mammoths again" the four men nodded and left to fulfil their orders.
"Ronnel take twenty men and head to Riverrun hopefully Lord Stark has been successful in his attack. Tell him of our victory and that I will come to Riverrun when I have secured our position" he ordered one of his men who nodded and left.
They made camp that night a mile from the battlefield on a hill overlooking the Green Fork. "We lost a little over 4000 men my lord mostly from our left flank including eight mammoths it would have been much more if the mammoths had not been so successful in breaking the enemy front lines. My lord Halys Hornwood and Medger Cerwyn both died from their wounds" Rickard nodded sorry for the loss of so many good men and spoke softly "what of Lannister losses." Long smiled when asked this question and almost laughed when he spoke "by last count their losses stand at over 15000 my lord the mammoths proved too much for them to stop" the lords gathered all seemed to cheer and laugh at hearing that even he gave a smile to hear how much the Lannisters suffered.
"What of our prisoners Ser Wylis" he asked the fat heir of White Harbour.
"My lord we took over 1000 prisoners including three dozen highborn the most significant of those are Ser Kevin and Lord Lefford" Wylis spoke in his usual husky tone, Rickard smiled at hearing they had captured Lefford with him as captive the Golden Tooth could be taken easily.
It was two days later at midday when he saw the giant walls of Harrenhal on the horizon coming closer he could see banners flying high over the walls. Whent, Stark, Tully and Frost banners all were flapping in the wind. Entering the enormous castle Rickard could hear the cheers and applause of the people of the castle and his own people who had ridden ahead with his friend Jon.
He watched Lady Shella Whent being escorted by one of her men towards Rickard "my lady with your leave my men are in much need of food and rest" she said to the lady of the castle.
"Harrenhal is at your disposal my lord if it weren't for you and your men my castle would be in the hands of Lannisters" lady Whent said with a smile.
Later that evening he met with his commanders in lady Whent's solar in attendance was Jon Cuy, Magner Thenn, Ser Wylis Manderly, Harrion Karstark, Ser Rickon a knight sworn to the Cerwyns and Lady Whent herself.
"Harrion where are the Lannisters now" he asked the heir of Karhold.
"My scouts report they have left the Riverlands and have camped at Duskendale, he didn't leave peacefully tho my lord he burned and killed everything in his path" Harrion spoke confidently.
Rickard thought carefully on what this meant before responding "what of Maidenpool were they able to close their gates before Tywin Lannister reached their walls."
"Yes my lord but not before their fields were put to the torch" Karstark replied.
He looked at Ser Rickon then who looked confused as to why he was even present "Ser Rickon you will have command of the Cerwyn and Hornwood troops, I want you and Harrion here to march out at dawn with 3000 men and assist the Mootons with the defence of Maidenpool is that clear" both men nodded at hearing his command.
"Lady Whent I need you to send word to as many of your fellow riverlords as you can we need them to send as many soldiers as they can spare here to fortify our position further, Tywin Lannister will be hesitant to attack now that we have his son and brother captive but he will attack eventually"he told the lady of Harrenhal who nodded at his request.
"My lords as you know Lord Robb has successfully beaten the Kingslayer and is camped at Riverrun I will be leaving at first light with 200 men to meet up with him there. Jon I am leaving you in command of the army in my absence work" he told his friend.
Ser Wylis spoke up then "my lord Tywin Lannister will have no doubt ordered Mace Tyrell to march against us we have no hope to hold off the full might of the Reach"
"You are correct Ser Wylis but it will take Mace Tyrell time to muster which is why I want as many rivermen as possible stationed here to repel any attack"Rickard spoke in a way that left nothing up for discussion. "My lords we will not be on our in this war for much longer I promise you that" he told them all ending the meeting.
The next morning he left for Riverrun with 200 of his men and a number of captives; looking forward to seeing his sons once more.