Chapter Eight
It had been a fortnight since the meeting with Balon Greyjoy, who for his part had kept to his word and had begun leading the Ironborn on raids all along the coast and seizing some coastal settlements. Robb and his main host had continued their march with smaller forces splitting off to capture settlements as they came o them none of which put up any resistance, Tywin and his remaining forces had been slowly pushed back towards Lannisport and Casterly Rock. Tywin was garrisoned in the Rock with most of his commanders and a large portion of his force with the remainder of his army in Lannisport.
Robb and his remaining force of about one hundred thousand en who were not left to protect the places they had taken and the gold were camped about five miles away from Lannisport. Robb was waiting in his tent when Theon entered "Robb I bring word from my father his entire fleet got Lannisport blockaded from the sea and he suggests that when you are ready to attack you should send men to the coast just outside the city and build a signal fire so he knows when to attack them from the other side" "good I will give the order later so that we can attack them at dawn do you think your father's men will be ready by then?" "they will be ready now it is not lie they have a camp to take down they are just sailing into the city" "good gather the bannermen it is time to make our final preparations".
A short while later all the lords were gathered in the tent for the meeting "is everything ready my lords" Greatjon replied to Robb "aye Your Grace the rams, ladders and catapults have all been built and are in position for the assault" "good I want all our archers to be set up along the line to shoot at the defenders while we advance" "I will see to it Your Grace" replied Brynden "Your Grace who will be leading the assault?" "asked Mace "no one person will be in charge of the assault I have decided that the centre and the two flanks will be led by different people so that they cn be better commanded if something goes wrong" everyone nodded "then may I have the honour of leading a part of the assault?" asked Mace "you will be by my side in the centre I have already decided to command that part of the assault personally with my two most experienced commanders leading the flanks" "very well" huffed Mace before Robb continued "Lord Tarly you will lead the left flank consisting of the men from the Reach with Garlan Tyrell as your second in command" both men nodded "my Uncle Brynden Tully will lead the right flank consisting of the men from the Riverlands and the Stormlands with Ser Cortnay Penrose as his second" again both men nodded "my personal bodyguard along with all the Northmen will be assaulting the centre Greatjon and Mace will act as my joint second in command, the rest of you will be in charge of your own men under the commanders I have assigned to each part of the assault do as they say as they speak with my voice am I clear?" everyone nodded "get some sleep my lords tomorrow we will hopefully all but destroy the Lannisters once and for all" this was met by cheers before everyone left "Theon wait a minute" "yes Robb?" "I want you to lead the men who are going to light the fire tonight it only seems fitting that Balon's son be the one to call him to battle" "it will be done Robb now take your advice and get some sleep" "I will try my friend" with that Theon left the tent and Robb began what would e a restless night's sleep for all of them.
Just before dawn and everyone was in position and the signal fire had been lit, Robb looked at the small group gathered around him including Theon, Greatjon, Smalljon, Mace and Loras before speaking "it is time" Robb gave the signal for the assault to begin.
The assault began with all the catapults in Robb's army launching flaming rocks into the city catching several buildings on fire then men then surged forward under the cover of the archers as they began their assault on the walls and the gates of the city. At the same time the Ironborn fleet made its way into the harbour of the city meeting little resistance as the majority of the defenders were focussed on the main army. Panic began to sweep the city as it was attacked from multiple sides the fiercest defence came in the centre as the gate was easier to defend than the walls, on both flanks the attackers quickly arrived at the walls and were making their way up the ladders within a short time of the assault beginning. Both Randal Tarly and Brynden Tully realised that Robb needed help in the centre so once their en had begun scaling the walls they each sent a portion of their forces to push along the walls ad press the defender on the wall which relieved some of the pressure on Robb's men.
As soon as the main gate was breached Robb personally led the charge through the gates his personal guards and Greywind right by his side as they began to hack their way through the defenders. The sigh of Robb and his direwolf terrified some of the Lannister guards who had all heard the stories about Robb some of them began to run away but were met by the Ironborn coming the other way. Robb and Balon met roughly halfway in the city as most of the Lannisters had either run in the direction of Casterly Rock is they could escape, surrendered or were lying dead somewhere in the city.
The two men were both covered in blood and sweat "how goes it Lord Greyjoy?" "well King Robb most of these cowards are either running or are no longer an issue" just then a woman joined Balon "father my men report that they saw what might be tunnels on the coast that could lead to Casterly Rock" "I take it this is the famous Yara Theon has told me about" "yes I am Stark" "where were these tunnels you were talking about?" "not far we can reach them shortly and take the bastard by surprise" Balon looked at Robb as Theon ran up "father, sister I am glad you are well" "you too brother" "forgive my children King Rob they seem to have forgotten we are in a battle" "it is quite alright I am sure I would be the same with my siblings do you want the honour of taking the castle Balon" "aye we will head for those tunnels" "good we will hunt down those cowards running for the castle and attack it from the front to provide a distraction I only as that you bring Tywin to me alive if possible you can do whatever you want to the rest of them" "I cannot promise that the old Lion might fight to the death but I will try" "Theon go with your father and sister you should be with your kin for this momentous occasion" "thank you Your Grace" the other man said before heading off with his father and sister.
The Ironborn left the way they came and began to head for the tunnels. Robb gathered his commanders for a quick meeting "the Greyjoys have found secret tunnels under the Rock which the will assault" everyone nodded "Mace I want you to stay here with two thousand men to watch the prisoners and round up any surviving Lannisters in the city while the rest of us attack the Rock from the front" "but Your Grace I should be with you fighting" "who is better at taking charge of this city in the mean time than the father by law of the King" "ah I see it will be done at once" Mace marched off to get his men organised while the others began to organise the assault on Casterly Rock, Loras was standing next to Robb "well played Robb" "what do you mean?" "putting my father in a pace he cannot do any harm while flattering him at the same time" "that is not what I was doing" "Robb it is fine in fact it is what my Grandmother always tries to do" "as long as you are not angry" "no in fact I am proud we might make a Tyrell out of you yet" "I wouldn't go that far". The men then made their way out of Lannisport and began the advance on Casterly Rock.
The small number of Lannister soldiers who had escaped the city were now trying frantically to get the guards of Casterly Rock to open the gates unfortunately for them and the men inside when Tywin finally relented and allowed them to come in the host of Robb Stark were right behind them and as they rushed through the barely open gates they were swarmed by the host who cut the down an stormed the castle. At the same time the Ironborn came up through the tunnels and began attacking the castle from within. Tywin knowing everything was lost surrendered and was dragged in front of Robb and his inner circle once they entered the castle. Tywin was thrown to the ground at Robb's feet "Tywin Lannister do you surrender to me?" "yes I surrender to you boy" he said reluctantly before being punched in the face by Greatjon "he is no boy you fucking scum he is the King" "he is no King of mine" "take him away and plunder this castle for all it is worth" this was met by huge cheers.
Theon approached Robb with a shocked look on his face "Theon what is wrong?" "my father and Yara are…..dead" he said before collapsing to his knees Robb was by his side in seconds embracing him "I am so sorry" "they died the way they would have wanted fighting" "you can return home with your people I will not hold you from your duty as their new lord" "I gave you my word as did my father so I will return home with the loot we have and our dead so we can give them a proper funeral but then I will lead my people to Kings Landing and we can finish this one and for all" "are you sure Theon" "yes Robb I am sure".
The army was there for three days while the army gathered the loot and took care of their wounded and dead. The Ironborn left on the second day Theon still promising to join Robb on the assault of Kings Landing. Robb sat on his horse outside the castle as his army began to file out Greatjon by his side "where to now Your Grace?" "Riverun where we will regroup and resupply before we march on Kings Landing and finish this war once and for all. Robb spurred his horse forward almost with a renewed sense of purpose now that victory was almost in sight.