Robb Stark – Various Locations
Despite the dread and hesitation he felt about living in Kings Landing Robb couldn't deny that he would miss the city and its people which he had grown to care for greatly. Leaving his family and people behind riding off to war had been unavoidable however as he needed to end this false dragon quickly so that lives could be spared and peace could return.
Thinking of the false Aegon Targaryen Robb couldn't help be filled with doubt; doubt whether or not the lords of Westeros would believe his word that Aegon wasn't who he said he was and doubt about the loyalty of many of the men who rode with him now. Of the six thousand strong host he had ridden out with nearly half were men of the Crownlands whose loyalty had always been to the Targaryens, his only comfort was that the rest of his men were all from the North, Riverlands or Reach and were all firmly behind him.
"Riders approach your grace" he heard someone say calmly. Looking to his left he locked eyes with Prince Oberyn who had been adamant about accompanying Robb to war saying that 'he wasn't going to let his nephew's memory be tainted by some bastard from Flee Bottom'.
Looking to where the Prince of Dorne was pointing Robb let out a small smile as a number of riders were coming fast towards them waving Buckler and Errol banners.
"Your grace my lord father has sent me to escort you and your host to Bronzegate" Ser Robert Buckler said fiercely.
Without saying a word Robb nodded to the older knight and continued on listening to the heir of Bronzegate tell him that men from Haystack Hall and Amberly had all mustered and were currently camped outside Bronzegate.
"Lord Wendwater see that the men make camp and scouts are sent out" Robb said to the lord of Wendwater when they came within sight of the Buckler's castle. Receiving a nod from the young lord Robb rode through the Stormlords camp receiving cheers and shouts of 'Stark' and 'King Robb'.
Entering the castle Robb smiled and greeted Lord Buckler and a dozen others before ordering a council be called to discuss everything that had happened since Robb and his men set out from the capital.
Lord Buckler was the first to speak his voice hard "I'm afraid it's not good your grace the Golden Company and their allies have landed in Cape Wrath and have spread like vermin. I received a raven from Ser Davos Seaworth saying that Crow's Nest, Weeping Town and Rain House have all fallen and that Broad Arch is under siege and will most like not last for much longer"
Listening to Lord Buckler speak Robb couldn't help but curse loudly before meeting the man's gaze and asking him to continue. "Ser Davos has also sent word that Lord Mertyns joined with the False Dragon freely and is now by his side ravaging Cape Wrath" Lord Buckler said bringing shouts of 'traitor' and 'coward' to go up before Robb waved the room to silence.
"What of Ser Davos has his keep fallen" Robb asked knowing that the former smuggler had lands near Mistwood.
At hearing that the Lord of Bronzegate smiled slightly before speaking "Ser Davos ordered his keep and the villages surrounding it evacuated. Seaworth has said that once he gets his people to safety he will take his ships and attack any ship flying the Dragon banner"
Taking the letter from the man Robb read it himself before nodding at the words with relief at the number of innocent men, women and children that Ser Davos managed to save from the possible wrath of the Golden Company.
Putting down the letter he turned once more to the Stormlords looking for more information. "Your grace Estermont has fallen near a dozen ships landed on the island and stormed Greenstone in the night we have heard nothing of Lord Estermont or his family" Lord Rogers said solemnly before pointed to a map of the Stormlands. "Tarth still holds strong my king the Evenstar will never surrender and Lady Brienne if reports are true is leading men to crush the Essosi sellswords aligned with the false dragon"
"Your grace my scouts report that the bulk of the Golden Company and the false dragon are moving on Griffin's Roost which could have already fallen by now. We have also have had no word about Prince Rickon and Lady Shireen" Lord Errol said his voice strained.
It was after Lord Errol finished speaking did every eye in the room fall to him "my brother and Lady Shireen are safe at Blackhaven where Lord Arstan is gathering men as we speak to ensure their safety" Robb said bringing relieved looks from the Stormlords.
"My goodfather is assembling his forces at Highgarden and Prince Doran has ordered Dornish spears to amass in the Boneway but they will not be fully mobilised for several weeks and I will not allow the Golden Company to run rampant through the Stormlands unopposed" Robb said fiercely looking to the map he had in front of him.
"Lords Errol and Cressey you will take seven hundred men and sail to Tarth; join Lady Brienne and rid the Island of the Essosi. Lord Mallister is gathering the royal fleet and is awaiting forces from the Vale before he sets out but I want Tarth secured by the time he arrives and together ye will move against the forces holding Estermont and ensure that the invaders have no place to flee to" Robb said his eyes scanning over the map his eyes resting on Griffin's Roost.
"The rest of us will march south and close off every road to the north keeping the bastard trapped in Cape Wrath until the forces of Dorne and the Reach can join us" Robb said strongly cursing internally at the thought that he was endangering the people of those lands.
Looking around the room Robb was pleased to see that those gathered were nodding in agreement; no doubt pleased they wouldn't need to fight the Golden Company and their elephants on their own.
"How many did you count" Robb asked Robert Buckler five days after their host left Bronze Gate.
"No more than seven hundred my king all Essosi sellswords" the Buckler heir said his voice strong and serious.
Since leaving Bronze Gate Robb had ordered his scouts to find out where exactly the false dragon and his army were but to his despair all they had learned was about these seven hundred Essosi. "And the Golden Company have there been any sightings" Robb asked all but knowing the answer.
"I'm afraid not your grace only a third of my scouts have returned alive and those that have weren't able to get close enough to Griffin's Roost" Ser Robert said angrily.
Nodding he remained silent for a while considering whether or not he was marching his men into a trap or not before finally deciding on what needed to be done. "Lords Buckler, Wendwater and Rogers ye will take our foot and archers and block the road leading from Griffin's Roost and send scouts to the north and south and ensure we won't be taken unawares. I will take the cavalry south and stop the Essosi before they reach Storms End" Robb said fiercely leaving no room for discussion.
"Your grace the Essosi have spotted us" his ever constant white shadow Ser Robar Royce said not long after the cavalry had broken from the rest of the army.
Without saying a word he nodded, drew his sword and looked to Grey Wind who let out a fierce howl signalling the attack. Riding hard and fast it didn't take Robb's men long before they crashed into the foreign invaders.
Slashing and hacking Robb roared with anger when he remembered that these men were responsible for the slaughter in Cape Wraith and for the deaths of so many innocents.
Swinging left and right, hacking and slashing, slicing and stabbing Robb didn't relent in his assault; cutting a man twice his age and size down with a signal slash to the chest before taking the head off a man well past fifty.
His men seemed to share his anger as everywhere he looked he saw his forces cutting down the foreign invaders with no mercy until finally after only a few minutes of battle a loud cheer went up from the now bloody field.
"This one is the captain your grace he attempted to flee when we attacked" Prince Oberyn said his armour coated in blood.
He looked to the dark skinned man which two Martell soldiers had thrown before him with nothing but disgust before he turned to Lord Fell and asked about their losses.
"Eighty dead or injured while this coward is all that remains of the sellswords" the large Lord Fell said with a smile on his face.
Turning once more to the sellsword he had to suppress a smile when he saw Grey Wind circling the cowering man with a look of complete terror in his eyes. "You have once chance tell me where the false king and the rest of his army is now or suffer the consequences" Robb said angrily while Grey Wind paced closer and closer to the man.
"They rode west into the Reach; the king wants to crush the flowers before they can muster their strength. We were ordered to lay siege to Storms End" the sellsword captain said sending whispers of dread to spread to those who heard him speak; a feeling Robb shared especially when he considered that Mace Tyrell was his only hope now of keeping the false dragon at bay.
Jon Stark – Various Locations
For a time when he was young before his father had come to him and told him about his legitimization Jon had thought that his life would be spent at the Wall serving as a ranger alongside uncle Benjen. Never could he have ever imagined that one day he would be a Prince who would soon be commanding a host to defend the place he once thought he would spend his days.
Before he could ride out to war once more however he had to say his farewells and ensure Lyanna was protected, a task which he was relieved to say was easily accomplished. Since the war had ended and Jon had been named Hand hundreds of men had sworn themselves to his service, to his surprise it wasn't only Northern soldiers but knights and men at arms from all across the seven kingdoms including a handful of second or third sons or distant cousins who stood to inherit nothing but their families name.
With his decision to only bring a hundred of his men north that would leave another three hundred or so within Kings Landing to protect his daughter all under the leadership of Rodrik Umber Jon's captain of guards. "I'd rather be by your side when the wildlings are thought a lesson but I give you my word i'll protect the little princess with my life" the giant Umber said in his usual loud imposing manner.
"Thank you Rodrik I need Lyanna safe, if the worst should happen she is Moat Cailin's future" Jon said seriously receiving a single nod of understanding from the giant Umber.
With his daughters protection in place Jon looked once more at the letters he had in front of him thinking of the battles ahead and not just with the wildlings. Robb had declared that men from the Vale, Iron Islands and Westerlands would all journey north to join with the northern forces to beat back the Wildlings and Jon was dreading the inevitable fights which would no doubt break out between the former enemies.
He left Kings Landing the following morning at dawn riding hard and fast hoping to reach the North as quickly as possible stopping only to rest, resupply and on a handful of occasions see their numbers grow. Stopping at Duskendale twenty five men had joined them led by Jon's former squire Walton who now held a keep on lands to the west of Duskendale. After that knights and free-riders joined their every expanding company at a steady pace until finally they arrived at the Twins with more than triple the men they had set out with.
"Ah Prince Jon it's good to see you again I was hoping to express my sympathy for the loss of your lady wife" old lord Walder said with a greedy smile spread across his face.
"Thank you my lord and thank you once more for seeing my men housed and fed" Jon said in response.
Lord Frey remained quiet for several moments before finally responding a greedy look upon his face. "Of course House Frey is nothing but loyal my prince and besides my boy Lothar's lands are in the North and he has begged for my assistance in seeing his lands defended so with your permission I will be sending a couple hundred of my men with a few of my boys to help defeat the savages"
"Might I ask my prince how is Princess Lyanna, a girl her age needs a mother around perhaps I should send one of my girls south to help care for the girl" old Walder said after a while of idle talk his weasel eyes darting to a dozen or so of his daughters and granddaughters seated below him.
Suppressing his anger Jon spoke up his voice quiet but firm "thank you my lord but that will not be necessary Queen Margaery and her ladies will ensure my daughter is well cared for in my absence!" Receiving a nod from the Lord of the Crossing Jon began remembering just how many lords and ladies had appeared since his arrival in the capital all offering their assistance in caring for his daughter but really all they wanted was for him to choose to marry one of them or a member of their family.
From the Twins they rode north stopping at Moat Cailin where a thousand men joined them a mixture of his own forces, Flints, Reeds, Cassels and a few others from the southern north. After that their host increased day by day as they rode further and further north; Dustin, Ryswell, Manderly, Locke, Hornwood and Tallhart men joined them in their hundreds and thousands until finally they arrived in Winterfell where Stark, Bolton, Cerwyn, Glover and half dozen other banners were all flying proudly from the walls and thousands lay camped outside.
"My lady Robb has asked that Sansa and Domeric be wed before the army marches for the Wall" Jon said to Lady Catelyn in what was his father's solar not long after his host had arrived.
Looking at the woman he had long feared he could see that she possessed none of the previous hatred in her eyes that Jon had grown up with. "Very well but she will remain within Winterfell afterwards until the Domeric returns, I will not risk sending Sansa to the Dreadfort with Ramsey Snow still on the loose" the lady said strongly meeting Jon's gaze.
Nodding he looked to Bran and asked the now lord and Prince of Winterfell about Roose Bolton's bastard. "I have sent Edric Norrey out with men they'll find Snow and bring him to Winterfell where he'll be punished for his crimes in front of all the lords of the North after we return from the Wall" Bran said in a voice Jon had never heard his brother speak.
"Robb has made Jon warden of the North until you come of age, he will be leading the northern army it would be safer for you to stay and rule in Winterfell" Lady Catelyn said to her son her voice strained.
"No these are my lands and people which are under threat and I will not send others to fight in my place" Bran said determined looking to Jon for support.
Looking from Bran to Lady Catelyn he remained silent for a few moments before speaking "Bran I have no issue with you riding north but you will not be taking part in any fighting and Ser Aerys Oakheart will be assigned to your protection and your guards will be doubled and Summer must always be at your side am I understood!"
"Understood" Bran said happily while Lady Catelyn had a worried look on her face. From there discussion turned to the remainder of the northern forces which were amassing to the north and Bran informing Jon about the forces from the south which had sent word that they were currently sailing to the Wall.
In the days that followed Jon watched with pride as Sansa wed his friend Domeric bringing cheers from the Northern lords gathered and a happy smile to his sister's face. A smile which didn't remain for long however as she was forced to wave farewell to her new husband two days later as the Northern army rode north to the Wall.
In the two weeks it took for the army to march from Winterfell to the Wall Jon listened as numerous northern lords declared that the wildlings would run and hide like so many times before when they saw the Stark banner coming to the Watches aid. Jon however wasn't certain especially when he remembered that the last time so many wildlings had joined together thousands of northmen had died beating them to submission including Jon's grandfather's grandfather.
He was taken from his thoughts however when he came within sight of Mole's Town and saw pillars of smoke arising from the small town. Leaving his foot behind Jon led his cavalry ahead only to be greeted with dozens of dead smallfolk littering the dirt paths of the town. "Your grace the girl says the wildlings attacked only this morning and headed for Castle Black not long after" Lord Glover said his hand resting upon the shoulder of a bloody and shaken girl who had tears running down her face.
"Lord Glover secure Mole's Town and search for survivors" he said to the Lord of Deepwood Motte before mounting his horse once more and riding north to Castle Black with the bulk of his cavalry in tow.
Coming within sight of the ancient castle Jon let out a sigh of relief at seeing that the castle still held and the wildlings were trying and failing to climb the walls and break the gate.
Drawing his sword Jon let out a fierce roar and rode forward intent on punishing those responsible for slaughtering the innocent of Mole's Town.
What happened next was nothing but a slaughter Jon's cavalry quickly rode down the wildling attackers with only a few surviving the initial crash, the last of which was a red haired girl who killed a half dozen men before Ghost brought her down with a slash to the neck.
Jon watched transfixed as the red haired girl fell lifelessly to the ground with blood seeping from the wound in her neck before his attention was drawn to the sound of a thousand different horns all blowing as one from beyond the Wall sending a shiver to run down his spine.
Notes
As always I own nothing and the more reviews/opinions the better.
Thanks for all those who reviewed I appreciate it.
These 2 POVs are similar I know but the battles/outcomes from the conflicts in the North and South will be different.