Seventh Month of 297 A.C. Riverlands
Lord Eddard Stark
Back to war once more, the past few years had become a blur of worry and happiness. He had never been able to find Jon and he thought that either the boy was dead or in thrall to the Targaryens across the narrow sea. Though Bolton had never admitted as such, it was the only thing that could be the case. That Bolton's son Domeric had grown to be such good friends with Robb was somewhat of a balm to the wounds the man's father had opened and yet a sadness hung over Ned at the thought that he would likely never see Jon again. The arrival of Cat's sister with news from Jon Arryn had been somewhat surprising, that she had confirmed what Jon had written had shocked and horrified both Ned and Cat in equal measure and when news of Robert's death had reached them along with Stannis Baratheon's declaration it had been the only thing to do to call the banners.
And so they had been in Moat Cailin 20,000 northmen ready to march and fight Lannisters. News of Tywin Lannister raiding the riverlands had reached them and there were other things that needed to be discussed. "Jaime Lannister holds Riverrun in his grasp, and Tywin Lannister raids the riverlands at will. It is time we did something about this. I would take suggestions from you all my lords."
Lord Jon Umber bold as brass as always spoke. "I say we find Tywin Lannister and go and destroy him and show him a good northern welcome. A sword through the arse and the Lannisters will go running back to their hidey-holes without a second thought."
There was some laughter and then Domeric spoke then his voice soft. "I disagree with my lord of Umber. Whilst it is tempting to teach the old lion of Lannister a lesson, there is a more prudent course of action. As of now the Kingslayer is the more dangerous of the two for he holds the chance to take the key to the Riverlands and once he does the crown will not stop there. We march for the Kingslayer and Riverrun and we shall win."
There was some muttering at that and then the Greatjon spoke. "And what makes you so confident that we could win against the Kingslayer? Tywin Lannister has at best 12,000 men the Kingslayer has the same amount of men as us."
There was more laughter and Ned looked at Domeric to see his ward had a very calm look about his face. "Jaime Lannister is something that his father is not my lord of Umber. He is rash and without patience. It is that, that will make him the target of so much danger and plot. Send a force to harry and distract his scouts, and you will make him blind, but he will charge through into the unknown and that would be his downfall."
Again more murmuring and then Lord Willam Dustin spoke then. "The lad speaks sense. But the question then remains what to do with Tywin Lannister's host. We cannot allow him to continue to raid without impunity."
Ned spoke then. "We shall cross into the riverlands. Stevron Frey is said to be a much more amicable man than his father ever was. That his men also perished during the beginning of this war, will give him more cause to want to engage in a round of fighting with the Kingslayer I believe. The whole host shall march towards Riverrun I do not wish to take any chances with Jaime Lannister, for it is possible we have been fed the wrong information with regards to the number of men father and son have. When Jaime Lannister is beaten and captured, Tywin Lannister will want to come to his son's rescue and that is when we shall trap him. I will send word to more of our lords to begin mustering men."
Lord Rickard Karstark spoke then. "What guarantee is there that Frey will remain true and not side with Lannister? After all his brother is wed to one of them, and his daughter or granddaughter or some such is wed to another. They have too many connections with the Lannisters for this to be a convenient plan."
"A valid concern my lord," Ned answered. "But for the nonce I do believe Jaime Lannister is the bigger threat. We shall march to the twins and get an assessment of the situation there." with that the meeting had ended and they had marched to the Twins and upon arriving had been greeted by a rather haggard looking Stevron Frey, Lord of the Crossing after his father's death earlier in the year.
"My lord of Stark, it is a pleasure to see you. Though I do wish it could have been in different circumstances. Things have been quite tense as of late here in the Riverlands, with the lions patrolling our lands." The man said.
Ned nodded. "Indeed my lord. These are very tumult times. And whilst I thank you for giving my men some place to rest their heads for the night at least, we are in a great rush to settle affairs. I would know what you know of events in the southern riverlands."
The man was silent for a moment and then said. "Things are bad for the Riverlords my lord of Stark. Edmure Tully was captured during the battle of Riverrun and there are rumours that he has been slain. Riverrun remains under siege but its fields and produce are being burnt by Lannister men. Tywin Lannister continues raiding the Riverlands with impunity and last I had heard was stationed in Harrenhal."
"Grim tidings indeed my lord. I heard that you had sent your strength down to fight beside Ser Edmure at Riverrun. Does this therefore mean you have none left to come south with us?" Ned asks.
The man nods. "Of the 3,000 men I sent south under my son Ryman only 50 are said to live. The remaining men I am afraid need to hold the twins should the old lion come marching this way."
"That is fair enough," Ned responds. "I hope you do not mind, but some more northmen will soon enough come marching this way under the command of Lord Rodrik Ryswell, they are going to be aiding us against this threat."
The man smiles then. "Aye that would be most welcome my lord. Anything to aid us against the Lannisters is something that will be most welcome. That my brother Emmon is wed to one is a great shame for the man is nothing but a sot and a fool."
Ned nods and then asks the man. "Are you aware of the number of men both of the lions has?"
The man sighs then. "The old lion has some 20,000 men with him and the Kingslayer has 10,000 men around Riverrun. Lannister shall not leave Harrenhal though and the Kingslayer holds the key to the riverlands within his grasp."
Ned nods says his thanks to the man and then leaves for his room. The next night he and his men march for Riverrun, Domeric Bolton serving as the head of the scouts burning a path to lead the Kingslayer into their trap. Ned and his son Robb and the boy's direwolf Greywind stand with the vanguard waiting and listening, and when horns are blown they fall into action. The Kingslayer as impatient as always, Ned swings his sword and begins cutting his way through men, slashing and hacking, slashing and hacking. Slashing and hacking the battle charges along, Ned coats Ice in red once more, never one to enjoy the thought of battle. He keeps an eye on Robb during the battle.
Swinging and hacking, slashing and cutting, ducking and dodging. The battle rages, Ned takes a few hits but he ends up killing those who get in his way and doing his job as a warrior as he was taught all those long years ago in the Eyrie. The fighting goes on, swinging and slashing, swinging and cutting, ducking and dodging, hacking, slashing, cutting, ducking, his sword is red with blood and there is a sharp pain in his leg from where a spear hit it, but the bodies are piling up and that is when he sees him the Kingslayer approaching him with a rabid fury, clearly they are winning the battle.
Ned prepares for the duel only to see the Kingslayer knocked from his horse by the Greatjon and later on when the man is bound in chains, Ned orders the assault on the siege camp around Riverrun, and watches as tents burn and men scream and then the assault begins anew. The battle of the camps as it is called ends soon enough and they enter Riverrun heroes, Robb acclaimed by his bannermen for killing many men, though his son looks haunted and worried, Ned is proud of his son for holding his own during the battle though the sight of his direwolf tearing into so many is somewhat worrying.
They are in Riverrun for nearly two weeks before they receive word of an party of Lannister soldiers marching from Harrenhal towards Riverrun. Tywin Lannister's greatest weakness his desire to aid his son in this time of peril will play into Ned's hands. They march from Riverrun and meet this Lannister host at High Heart the sight of so many historical events for Starks in times gone by. The battle is fast and furious, Ned swings his sword and hacks and slashes cutting men down for size, swinging and slashing, cutting and hacking. Cutting and hacking, slashing and ducking, swinging and blocking more and more men begin to die.
It is a bloodbath, the lion of Lannister and the direwolf of Stark are clashing as Ned has wondered they would since the sack of King's Landing and on it goes. His sword is red with blood, his armour covered in dirt and blood, and on it goes, swinging and hacking, roaring commands and breaking the Lannisters against the slopes of the hill. Finding the gaps and breaking them all at once, he cannot see Robb and he begins to worry at that his son cannot die not now, not ever. Swinging his sword, hacking and slashing, cutting and ducking, on and on it goes, his leg is beginning to cause him more pain and that is when the giant enters his line of vision.
The giant, the mountain that rides, Ser Gregor Clegane, a brute of a man. Their dance begins their swords clashing off of one another, sparks fly, brute strength against skill, on it goes, the dance. Sparks fly, pain and anger and blood and gore flow through this battle, swing, block, swing, duck, and swing, hit. This dance continues on and on, swinging and hitting one another, Ned groans internally as pain shoots through his body when Clegane hits him, though he manages to severely dent the brutes armour he is not sure how well he can keep doing this, his strength is floundering.
Battering against the mountain, and his arms are beginning to grow weary, swinging his sword, swinging and hacking, using all the tricks he knows in the book, swinging and slashing, swinging and slashing, hacking away. Slash, hack, duck and cut. The pain in his arms is growing but he goes on regardless, determined to ensure that he does not die wanting, or unaware he is not defenceless. Blood is pouring from both of their bodies now, their wounds are taking their toll, and then suddenly Clegane swings and kills Ned's horse, and the dishonour of the move shocks Ned so much so that he does not have enough time to move from his horse before it lands on top of him. Crushed under the pain he roars in pain and then Clegane is over him. He says a prayer to the old gods as he prepares for a blow that never comes, for his son's direwolf leaps onto Clegane and he is lost into the darkness.
The battle has stopped when he wakes up and the horse has been moved from him but there is nothing but a sense of death. "Robb…." He says softly.
His son arrives then and takes his hand. "Please father you must stay with us, please father don't go."
Ned smiles slightly then and says. "My time has come son. The blood is leaving me as is the life. I love you son and I am so very, very proud of you. Tell your mother and siblings that I love them, and tell Jon… tell Jon." It is getting very hard to breathe now the pain is increasing. He can see his mother and his father, Brandon and Lyanna, "Tell Jon, that I love him." With that Eddard Stark breathes his last.