Robb was fuming, his hands constantly twitching, news of Theon's treachery had reached them days before, yet he had still been unable to forgive himself. He had sent Theon to the Iron Islands in order to forge a common front against their enemies, and King Balon had thrown that in his face and attacked him, sending Theon to sack the Twins, more than doubling the distance Robb would have to go in order to get home from where he was now, Riverrun, as he continued to war against the Lannister hosts on the far side of the Golden Tooth. They were not moving however, instead they were waiting behind fortifications, gradually reinforcing with sellswords and the dregs of Lannisport, green boys and farm hands, as well as those old enough to have been in the vanguard against the Mad King and the Ninepenny Kings. He had been forced to send the Mallisters home to defend the coasts against the Ironborn should they raid again. Thankfully, he still had more than enough men to hold the Golden Tooth against Tywin Lannister.
Robb was at Wayfarer's Rest, the closest Riverlands castle to the Golden Tooth. The Northern host was camped outside it as he decided what moves to make now that Tywin Lannister was out of the Riverlands. The Riverlords' hosts were stationed at Riverrun further inland, although the lords themselves were arriving one by one. Indeed, Robb was only waiting for Ser Wylis Wode, who was leading the men of Harrenhal, to join them. When he did, he finally got the council assembled in the Great Hall of Warfarer's Rest to discuss how the war would progress.
"Tywin Lannister must be made to pay", declared Marq Piper, slamming a gauntleted fist on the table. "We should circumvent the Golden Tooth by going south, with the Reach unoccupied, we can enter the soft underbelly of the Westerlands."
Some of the Riverlords agreed with him, but Tytos Blackwood had something else to say. "Attacking Tywin Lannister gives him the advantages, all of them", Robb noted that he was one of the more cautious commanders after the Skirmish along the Red Fork, where he had lost many men. "The pressure is on him to attack, we should reinforce this side of the Tooth and bleed him when he launches his next attack,"
The Riverlords were divided along those lines, Robb noticed, they all wanted their vengeance upon Tywin Lannister for the damage he had wrought in the western Riverlands during his retreat. However, Robb knew that, whilst defeating Tywin would be a boon, King's Landing was the objective, and currently there was already a host moving against it. The host of Renly Baratheon. No one was of any doubt that he would be victorious, for he had a huge force and it was fresh and unblooded. Following the defeat of the Capital, Robb was relying on Jasper claiming the throne so that the war in the south continued, giving him more freedom, particularly to march against the capital whilst battles were raging in the Stormlands.
Lord Bolton was also thinking along those lines it seemed. "We should march east", he said, standing forward so all may see him. "His grace's mother is trying to gain an alliance with the Vale, if they succeed, the war is all but won, if not, then we can still prepare to march on the weakened capital." That plan seemed to have the approval of the Northern lords and arguments broke out between the lords of the two regions of his Kingdom over which strategy to take. Robb rubbed his stubble, wishing that his mother were there to give him some advice, or better yet, his father. He settled for stroking Grey Wind's head softly.
"Eventually Lannister's Lion will make a mistake", said Lord Stevron Frey, who had kept his host with the main force, despite the destruction of his home and much of his family. "The longer we frustrate him, the more likely that mistake will be, marching against him is a mistake."
"I agree", said Ser Edmure, "we must force Lord Tywin to react to us, rather than the other way around, if we march against him, we will be reacting to his retreat. March east, and he will be forced to react to our march." Robb's eyebrows raised, such thinking was more akin to Brynden than Edmure.
Robb looked over the Riverlords, they did not seem content with the suggestion, and Robb wished that Brynden had said it, for it was Brynden's skill and experience that would inspire them to follow what he said, rather than Edmure's inexperience, for, apart from minor skirmishes of a few hundred men, he had no experience what so ever. Brynden on the other hand had made a name for himself fighting the Blackfyres in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and then later in Robert's Rebellion he had fought the Targaryens. Of all the soldiers in the Riverlands, he probably had the most experience. The only two who could match it were Lord Hoster, who was ill and infirm, and Jason Mallister, who was at Seagard. "We cannot leave our western lands open to the Lannisters by marching East." Declared Jonos Bracken, who's lands had suffered under Lannister occupation.
"Well we cannot remain here forever", retorted Tytos Blackwood. The rivalry between the houses of Bracken and Blackwood had not been helped by their lack of unity when they faced Tywin Lannister along the Red Fork. The arguments went on and on, circling in an endless fashion, and all the while, Robb listened to all of the advice and suggestions, deciding on the better courses of action from each and trying to work all of them into his plan of action for the war. It was then that a messenger arrived and passed Robb a letter, it bore the seal of Harrenhal, so Robb slit the seal and unfolded the letter. His eyes widened as he got further through it. He patted Grey Wind, who knew what his master wanted, and howled, gaining the attention of every lord in the room.
Robb sighed and looked up at them all. "Renly has moved faster than anticipated, his host crossed the Blackwater Rush, sixty thousand men at arms are now descending on the capital and it shall fall within the week." Silence fell upon the room.
The GreatJon declared to the whole room, "from there, he shall almost certainly march on Harrenhal to defeat us", he strode up to Jasper, "your grace I-" Robb held out a hand to cut him off.
He stood from the high chair and all looked at him. "Then we must take position in order to defend Harrenhal, I shall lead our host east."
"But Your Grace", Ser Brynden said, "what of the Golden Tooth?"
"You shall have the command of the Riverlords, Ser Brynden", Robb declared, "should Tywin Lannister try to return, you shall bleed him white, and then remove his head." Ser Brynden nodded, and stepped back as Robb stared at his lords, who were all looking up to him. "Ready the men", he called out, "we march at dawn!"
Cheers met him as he descended from the high chair and returned to his chambers.
When there, he found a letter awaiting him on his table. It bore the seal of Storm's End. He looked around, to see if anyone was there who might have put it there. He picked it up and sat down at the edge of the bed, wondering what Jasper was contacting him about. When he opened it, he saw that it was not from Jasper at all, but Arya.
Robb
I was only just able to slip out and write this to you, there was commotion at Storm's End, I will not explain it now, but now Jasper is marching again, he is leaving along the Western Road towards the Reach, the Dornish Marches and other places, but I am afraid I do not know where he is going. He received a letter from Stannis Baratheon that seemed to unnerve him, it unsettled him anyway for he was gone within two days, where he is going I suspect only he knows.
I hope you are well, we have not heard much here of what you have been doing, but we have not heard you are dead, so that is a good thing.
I am fine, Nymeria as well, Jasper has been a good host to use when he has been here, although I suspect he would not be happy about me sending this raven off.
I know it will be hard for you to reply to this, so I do not expect you to, but I had to send this off, I do not know when we will speak again, but I believe that we will.
Fare Well Robb, and if you get the chance, kill Joffrey for me.
Your Sister
Arya
Robb slowly closed the letter. Wherever Jasper had marched to there was no way he would reach them before he found out. More than that, he was glad that Arya was okay. Now he just had to hope that Renly Baratheon had some honor when he stormed King's Landing.
