Robb Stark, Heir to the North, Northern Camp outside Hornwood,297.
Robb Stark was nervous. Lord Bolton's bastard son had killed his trueborn brother and taken Lady Alys Karstark hostage. Strangely though Lord Bolton had refused to hand his son over and had risen in rebelion. It was strange, the Boltons could only muster about 9,000 men but they had hired sellswords from across the narrow sea and now had a force numbering 20,000. They had moved south and had crushed the smaller force of 8,000 men the Manderly's, Hornwoods, and flints of WIdows watch had scraped together. Robb's father had called the banners. In a short amount of time the close lords to Winterfell and the Boltons had mustered their forces. Houses Karstark,Umber, Cerwyn and Cailin had mustered a portion of their forces. Their host numbered 25,000 with 3,000 Karstark men, they had left the majority at Karstark in case the Boltons marched north, 1,000 Cerwyn men, they were a small but fierce house, 7,000 Cailin Elite Warriors who could probably crush the rebellion on their own and 11,000 Stark men, and 3,000 Umber men. Despite the superior odds Robb was worried of the battle to come, he looked across the war council tent they had set up close to Hornwood where the Bolton host was, and could see his cousin Jon looked much the same, on the contrary the rest of the nobles looked unfazed, The older Lords being in 2 wars already and Clara being a Cailin they were all well prepared, Jon and him where here for experience and to watch the Lords and Lady at work and witness batlle.
"The terrain outside Hornwood is flat enough and Bolton isnt stupid enough to fight us in the open field. He will either fight many different skirmishes to whittle down their numbers or try to ambush us in the forest. I would advise we force him into battle, my lord." Said Clara and the other Lords nodded agreement.
"Aye Bolton is too cowardly to fight us fair." sneered the Greatjon angrily .
"How do you suppose we do that Clara." Asked Robb's father.
"Attack the Dreadfort with the mountain clansmen and Glover men that are on the way, while we place ourselves in a favourable position in between them and them, here." She said pointing to a hill on the road to the Dreadfort.
"What's to stop him from raiding the surrounding areas for supply's?" asked Lord Cerwyn
"I have sent for 10,000 more warriors under the command of my husband to rally with the remainder of the Manderly, Flint, and Hornwood men. They also have a force of 5,000 Dustin and Ryswell men with them bringing their numbers up to about 19,500 men. I would ask for leave to go and command that force along with Jon, my Lord, we will march towards the Bolton host and they will either have to engage us or your force, mine will be smaller but more elite" she said, everyone looked at her impressed.
"When we heard you held the Moat with 1,000 wariors against 20,000 at age eight I thought I was hearing things but I now see why Martyn was so unsurprised." said Lord Karstark grinning in anticipation.
"I approve of the plan, my lady, but Clara, take 1,000 of your fighters with you as an escort, we will get your daughter back Rickard." Promised Robb's father.
"I swear it on the Gods, my Lord" swore Clara.
Clara Cailin, Lady of the Moat, South of Bolton host, 297.
She reached her host two weeks after she left the Stark host and instantly called a war council to explain the situation to the Lords present.
"Lord Stark has put me in command of this host,The Mountain clansmen and Glover men are besieging the Dreadfort as we speak and Lord Stark's host is in between the Bolton host and there. We are to advance on the Bolton host and force them into a battle with us or Lord Stark's host. Our host is smaller than the Bolton one but far superior with Manderly Knights, Hornwood Archers, Dustin Infantry, Ryswell Heavy horse and Cailin Spearmen, we will march at dawn, any questions?"
"No my lady, it is good to see you though." Said Wylis Manderly, in place of his father.
"Aye Clara, I thought Hornwood would fall with Ruth still inside." Said her Uncle Halys, shivering at the thought.
"No,Uncle I would not stand for it."
They had left at dawn and within a week learned the Bolton host was marching on them. They lined out opposite each other two weeks later. Lord Bolton had requested a meeting with them and they met in the middle of the field as is custom.
"My Lords and Lady I ask that you join me in taking down the Starks who wish to take my heirs head and place me as Lord Paramount of the North." He said.
"Your 'heir' killed my grandson bastard, the north belongs to the Starks and always will, your house will go extinct and fade from memory forever known and the fools that betrayed the North and Starks even after they soared you once before." said Lord Ryswell. All the other Lords nodded and looked at Clara who had been deathly quiet and was looking at Bolton with such hatred it made the famously impassive Lord squirm.
"The only thing keeping me from spearing you right now is my honour and that of the Stark's, but I swear I will kill you myself, goodbye Lord Bolton(Sansa badass line.) and turn her horse around with her lords following her.
Soon the order was given and the Bolton men advanced on her men. It looked like Bolton had put the sellswords on his flanks and was going for the more reliable northmen in the center as a rock. Clara had countered that by putting her Caillin elites in the center with most of her archers in the center. She had put her Calvary on both flanks, a mix of Ryswell and Manderly and Cailin heavy riders along with the Dustin and Ryswell foot supporting them with the Hornwood, Flint and Manderly men in reserve. She was in command of her footmen along with Brandon, Lord Ryswell and Manderly were in command of the cavalry, her uncle in command of the archers, Lord Dustin was in command of the supporting infantry and Lord Flint was in command of the reserve.
The Bolton force was lacking in cavalry and Clara knew her heavy horse would smash into the unorganised sellwords and followed by the infantry in support they wouldn't stand a chance. Her Cailin warriors were far superior than the Bolton ones and would break them or hold them until her cavalry and infantry came in from the sides.
"SPEAR'S TO THE FRONT" She called, and the famed spears of the Moat formed up "SPEARWALL!"
"CALVARY! CHARGE!" She called and it was echoed up the line, the northern riders started their charge just as the first archer volley was let loose. Many Bolton men fell and the sellswords couldn't form up a decent shieldwall in time due to the arrows raining in on them and the northern riders smashed into them sending many men flying and screaming. Over the sounds of battle he turned to Jon who was by her side.
"Stay with me through this, you need not die just to prove yourself a northerner." Jon looked shocked that she knew what he was thinking but nodded his consent.
"ARCHERS FOCUS THEIR RESERVES AND ARCHERS!" She shouted and her uncle followed her command. The Hornwood bowman whittled down their numbers with their superior quality.
"WARRIORS OF THE MOAT! SLOW ADVANCE!" She shouted and the spear wall advanced on the actual Bolon men who were looking very nervous indeed. Lord Bolton had as expected commited his reserves to sure up his wavering sellswords but they were low on numbers and the Dustin, Ryswell and Manderly men were slowly cutting through them.
"FOR THE MOAT!" she shouted and her men echoed her call.
"HONOUR THY BLOOD!, FOR THE NORTH" Roared the warriors, the Cailin words and northern war cry combining as the Bolton and Cailin men clashed, Clara was focused only on the battle and man infront of her as she stabbed,bashed,swiped and cut her way through the Bolton men with a brutal efficiency. Sléa na Móta was blood red and the blood ruins were glowing, giving her extra speed, strength, focus and stamina. Jon and her warriors could barely keep up as they too cut though Bolton men with sickening ease. For every Cailin fighter that died at least 7 Bolton ones did. Soon the sellswords on the flank began to break due to the Northern reserves being committed but they were run down by the cavalry, and the infantry began to swing on the Bolton's side and back. Suddenly she was in front of Lord Bolton, his bastard and their guard. Only Brandon, Jon and 4 of her personal guards were able to keep up with her.
"And now your line ends" she smirked and charged. Jon and her guards engaged the Bolton guards, they were outnumbered but were more skilled, William engaged the man that killed his cousin and she engaged Lord Bolton and another man who looked to be a sellsword commander.
She ducked under the first swing of the sellsword and hit him in the stomach with her shield as she spun under him but couldn't finish him as Lord Bolton stepped in, he was more cautious and tried to counter her range and speed by bating the spear towards the ground but she had prepared for him doing that and ducked under his counter swing and bashed him with her shield before swing her spear behind her at the sellsword and the razor sharp spear head connected with the throat of the sellswords and he dropped to the ground dead. Lord Bolton tried to get up and run but she threw her spear into his back killing him instantly due to the extra speed and strength from the runes. Jon and the guards had killed the Bolton guards and Brandon had subdued the bastard.
"You and Lord Karstark are due and appointment bastard." Said Brandon
"Ohhh, I'm excited, his daughter was good fun to torment, I'm sure I'll enjoy this just as much." He said with a mad glint in his eyes before Clara knocked him out.
"Good-Daughter, All sellswords are dead, they all tried to flee and were cut down we won't have any problems with those scum roaming our lands, all Bolton commanders were killed and the surviving 3,000 levys will go home after the Dreadfort falls." Said William Dustin as they settled down for a council meeting later that night.
"What are their casualties?" she asked
"All 11,000 sellswords are dead, and 6,000 Bolton men." Answered Lord Flint.
"What of ours?"
"Only 3,000 deaths Clara, the Moat lost 700 fighters." Said her husband sadly.
"I see, we will camp here for a week and await Lord Starks orders." She said. "And William I'm sure you'll be happy to know you will be a Grandfather in 6 months." she smiled. Brandon looked confused for a minute before he beamed at her and hugged her.
"Congrats my Lady, my Lord." Smiled Lord Flint, Lord Ryswell and Manderly echoed his congratulations.
"I can't believe you fought like that while 3 moths pregnant. " said her uncle, shaking his head with a smile on his head as he and the other Lords walked out leaving
"Why didn't you tell me Clara?" Brandon asked when they were alone.
"I only found out before the Boltons rebbled and I didnt want to get your hopes up if I was to die." she said sadly.
"Your fine and this child will grow up to be a warrior like her mother and ancestors." He said rubbing her stomach.
After hearing of their Lords defeat the Dreadfort opened its gates for Lord Stark's host which had joined the Glover men and the Host's were disbanded, however all the Lords were summoned to Winterfell to discuss the Rebellion. They were seated in the great hall of Winterfell with Lord Stark and his Family on the high table with her and the other nobles on the beaches in front of them.
"As you know I have called you here to discuss the Rebellion led by Lord Bolton and his Vassals, his bastard son Ramsay Bolton is a captive and will stand trial for treason,kinslaying and the kidnapping of Alys Karstark, thankfully he did not Violate her sexually. I ask you now what should be done with the Bolton and Whitehills?"
"We should kill the kinslaying bastard and put your second son in power in the dreadfort my lord!" shouted the Greatjon.
"We should carve up the Land between the neighbours and burn the dreadfort!" Shouted Lord Tallhart.
"Put someone you trust in power" shouted another.
"MY LORDS!" shouted Clara instantly silencing the many different suggestions. "Shouting over each other will do no good here, I say we should carve up portions of the Bolton lands, say give the Whitehill lands to the Foresters, and carve up small pieces between the other vassals neighbouring the Bolton Lands, however a significant portion should be kept and given to a Loyal family, say the Cassels, or one of your son's to weaken any Bolton Loyalist that may still remain their,though I doubt there is many." she said.
"Aye, a good suggestion as always Lady Cailin." said Lord Ryswell.
"What of the bastard?" asked Lord Dustin
"Kill him, let one of the families he harmed do it." she suggested.
"I'll do it." said a soft feine voice, they turned and looked to see Alys Karstark.
"Aye, I say we let her." said Lord Dustin and Lord Ryswell agreed as the families wronged agreed. "What say you my Lord?" He asked Lord Stark.
"I agree that Clara's suggestion is the best option, and I would allow the lady Alys to do it." he said." My thank's my Lord's winterfell's hospitality is yours for as long as you wish it." The Lords all left but Clara stayed.
"My lord, One of the Lords under me died in the fighting and his keep is not owned now, I would ask you to allow me to make Jon one of my vassals. He fought well beside me and is a Loyal Northerner and I could think of no one else I would want as a vassal." She said, the Stark's looked shocked but eventually Lord Stark smiled and said
"If he wishes it I will be delighted to allow it, he may create his own Stark branch if he wishes."
"I would, My Lord, My Lady." He said grinning.
"What would your sigil be Jon" said Arya excitedly
Jon thought for a moment then smiled, "A white background with a white snarling Direwolf in front, House Whitestark Lords of Arden Keep." He said Smiling.
A months later on the 27 of the 5th moon of 297 after conquest a son was born to Lady Clara Cailin and he husband Brandon Cailin named Eddard Cailin, A year later a girl called Lyanna would be born, In this time the Caillins continued to prosper and Cailin City grew to be called the city of a thousand merchants due to the canal that flowed through it that made it rich that was built a thousand years ago that most of the free cities used to reach port Towns in Westeros like Lannisport, Sea Dragon Point and even Oldtown, A toll booth was built and the canal was widened making the Cailins even richer and the city even bigger. She decided not to increase the Cailins military power to much so there would still be people in to take care of Children, Farm and keep the North going even through war, however everyone between the ages of 15 and 40 could fight at an elite level even if not all of them would be used, She had a center in her lands that people could sign up and sign out of service, which meant they were likely to be called up if they were needed, at any given time they had 30,000 Elite soldiers willing to be called upon while the North all together could easily field 100,000 men, equal to the reach, though their troops were much better trained and equipped. The northern mines that could be found all over the country continued to make the North rich and would continue to do so for thousands of years more. The Cailins alone were just as rich as the Tullys. In fact the Cailins alone could conquer the Riverlands if they so wished.