From the moment the Lannister's invitation had reached his Father's hands, the entire castle had been moved into a frenzy of activity. No man, nor woman was idle as the preparations were made. It was no small feat to move and also to maintain a force of thirty thousand strong, and Robb quickly learned the tedious details that had to be attended to. Arrows needed to be crafted, swords sharpened, horses needed to be shoed, and food gathered to sustain the men. It was their good fortune that the harsh weather which Robb's Father had marched his army through had disappeared, leaving clear skies and good working conditions.
The only hiccup they had to deal with was Lord Walder Frey. The man had reluctantly granted Robb's father passage across the Twins, and had pledged a small force of soldiers to their cause. After a day, and with no Frey in sight, Eddard Stark had sent a rider with a signed message from Lord Tully, signed by Edmure, stating that Walder would be forcibly removed from his lands if he broke his oath to House Tully. The next day, somber looking Freys began to trickle through Riverrun.
Robb spent his time split between shadowing his Father, working on training Gendry properly with a sword, and lavishing as much attention as he could on Margaery…which was never nearly enough for him. The more time he spent with her, the deeper his care for her grew. The march preparations had put talks of a wedding to the side, but he swore he would single handedly cut through every Lannister man if it would mean he could make Margaery his wife.
Two days had gone by in a blink, and Robb glanced back and saw columns of men on the march, thousands and thousands of soldiers loyal to his family House, be it Stark or Tully. It was almost unbelievable. Growing up in the North, life had always been mostly peaceful… harsh to a degree, but peaceful. The biggest threat had always been a stray wilding raiding a Northern village. Part of him had always envisioned a boring future, that would see him rising to the mantle of Lord of Winterfell after his Father died of old age. Looking back into the solemn faces of the soldiers behind him, he realized that the future was a complete mystery now. Thousands of these people would likely die in the hours to come.
He thought back to his most recent, second parting from Margaery, and it had been even more painful then the first. He could practically still feel her fingertips lingering over his skin as they had the night before. As trying as it was to leave her, he was glad that she was safely tucked away within the walls of Riverrun. His Father must have noted his distraction, because the Lord of Winterfell cuffed him on the shoulder.
"Focus on the threat in front of you and not what's waiting for you back there," Eddard scolded.
Robb nodded. "Sorry, Father."
"There is nothing to apologize for son," Eddard smiled. "I was a young man once as well…for a short time at least. It seems the gods have seen the fit to have both our formative years cut short by war. I wish it wasn't so for you."
"That's not your burden, Father," Robb protested.
"Aye, maybe not directly, but things could have been different if I had not put a crown on Robert's head. He was never going to be a good king, and I knew it. I was protecting myself in a way, really. There were those who would have supported me if I had wanted the throne. Robert's anger fueled the Rebellion, but it was my Father and Brother murdered, it was my Sister taken. Truthfully, the thought of ruling terrified me. I took the easy way out and ran home north. I'll never be sorry for the blessings that decision has given me, though."
"Speaking of Robert," Robb shifted, looking back to where Gendry rode next to Jon and Theon, "you know the boy I brought with me from King's Landing?"
Eddard nodded. "Aye, strapping lad, carries the hammer around with him."
"He's King Robert's bastard son."
Eddard looked back and stared at the boy intently. "Huh, he is the spitting image of Robert…a much younger, and considerably less fat Robert. Does he know?"
"Aye. Jon Arryn must have figured it out too, and it likely played a part in Stannis running back to Dragonstone. They discovered the Lannister deception about the Princes and Princess."
"Well, if he fights anything like Robert, he will be a great asset. Though, we will have to hide him from Stannis. He will only see the lad as a potential challenge to his claim, whatever it is he claims himself to be at the moment. Still, a problem for another day. We have enough in front of us as it is."
The day wore on as they made the slow, trudging march to Raventree Hall. The lands had been completely deserted as those in the path of the war took off for safer parts. The skies grew darker and mist of fine flurries started to cascade down upon them. After what felt like a lifetime to Robb, he saw the first glimpse of the Lord Blackwood's home. The braziers were burning brightly along each wall and tower, which were clearly manned to capacity. Upon their approach to the castle, it was evident that Lord Blackwood had been relentless in preparing for hostilities. Hundreds of men were busy at work digging trenches and hammering sharpened wooden spikes into the ground to ward against calvary. Lord Blackwood himself was overseeing the activities when they finally made it the gates.
Robb's Father quickly slid off of his mount and greeted his friend. "Tytos," Eddard greeted as the men embraced.
"Good to see you, Ned," Lord Blackwood replied. He looked behind Eddard to the columns of soldiers who were beginning to set up tents and find themselves a bit of empty ground to rest. "I see you've been busy."
"You as well. Have you run into any trouble?"
Lord Blackwood shook his head. "Lannister has sent some scouting sorties trying to lure us out, but nothing other than that. I fear he's become conservative in his old age."
"I would strongly doubt it," Eddard frowned. "Somehow, I think I'd feel better if he had just brought his army and tried to swarm us. He's a cruel, cunning bastard. This meeting he's called for is a farce. He's gauging the size of our host and our resolve for a fight."
"We have plenty fucking men, and plenty fucking resolve," the Greatjon quipped as he made his presence known. "These southern cunts won't know what hit them."
"While I appreciate your confidence, Lord Umber, I've sent my own scout riders out," Lord Blackwood cautioned. "Along with the Lannister's main force, Lord Tywin has men from Highgarden, Antlers, Rosby and Duskendale. There's no telling what others have joined in the meantime."
"It also means the Crownlands have been slow to rally to Stannis…if they have at all," Eddard observed. "He never was one for making friends. Unfortunately that means he is less of a distraction in King's Landing."
"We're also likely outnumbered," Lord Blackwood added.
"We are, which means we need to make sure we fight this battle on our terms. Their mounted soldiers are superior to our own. Our advantage would be get them on foot, close combat." Eddard stated.
Robb, seeing an opportunity to assert himself, stepped up next to his Father. "I don't mean to volunteer your home, Lord Blackwood, but we should use this position to our advantage. When we fought the Lannisters at Wayfarer's Rest, the castle itself served as an obstacle against our enemies. The Riverlands lack natural fortifications, so we should force them to fight us here, with the walls as our center of defense. Expand the trenches and traps that Lord Blackwood has already begun."
Lord Blackwood looked unmoved upon the suggestion at first, worrying Robb that he had offended the man, but the Lord of Raventree Hall nodded. "It would give us a strategic advantage, I admit. Our archers would have an increased range firing from a height, and the scorpions could rain hell from the towers. I would need to evacuate the women and children from the city though. I won't have them caught in the crossfire."
"Send them North to Riverrun. Your people will be safe there," Eddard ordered, before looking to his son. "It's a good plan, Robb. It does mean dividing our forces around the castle, though. We won't be able to see what's going on along the entire length of our lines. If a segment breaks, it may be harder to reinforce it in time. There is great risk of being flanked from one side."
"We can place men on the battlements to track the integrity of our lines and relay messages between our forces," Lord Blackwood offered. "I would volunteer several of my men, as they are most familiar with the layout of the castle. The real question is, what's to stop Tywin from marching his force around us? These are open lands."
"Nothing, unless we give him a reason not to," Ned answered. "How much pitch and hay do you have on hand, Tytos?"
Lord Blackwood's brow raised at the question. "I believe our stores should be enough, if I get your intent, Ned. I can likely procure some from Pennytree, or I can try to squeeze some out of Bracken as well. Though, I can't say I'm terribly thrilled about the idea of laying waste to the countryside."
Ned reached over and grasped Lord Blackwood's arm. "I fully understand you are bearing the burden of this plan, and it will not be forgotten, my friend. Any aide required after this is done will be given back, twice over. I swear it." Ned looked back at the others, and Robb noticed that some of the other Lords had begun to congregate around them.
"While we're wasting our time treating with the Lannisters, we'll send out men with carts full of pitch and straw. When the time is right, we'll set fires on our flanks and it will force them to us. They won't be able to risk marching blindly through the smoke, lest they be ambushed. As you said, this is open land. There would be nowhere to retreat for them. It may even be prudent to stash archers behind the flames to send off warning shots."
"This is going to take time," Lord Blackwood advised, the logistics clearly running through his head. "If you'll excuse me, my lords, I will start putting things in motion."
"Of course, Tytos," Ned agreed. "Lord Umber, I would have you assist Lord Blackwood to see that our defensive positions are sound. I would trust no other to see that the men have proper incentive to work quickly."
"Give me one of those bloody huge wolves and I'll have this place closed up tighter than a maiden's cunt," the Greatjon blustered, standing straight and accentuating his considerable height. Robb's first inclination was to keep Grey Wind in his own company. He feared the damage that a direwolf and Lord Umber may inflict on their unwitting men. It wouldn't do to send their army into battle with debilitating bites littered across their appendages.
"Any raven that comes within eyesight of this camp is to be shot down," Ned ordered, looking back in the direction of their enemies. "Tywin has the numbers advantage on us. I won't have spies reporting our activities back to him as well."
"Who will be going to the meeting Father?" Robb questioned, though in reality Robb only cared whether he would be going.
"Tywin must know that there is no simple way out of this," Ned stated. "No amount of gold is going to absolve his progeny of their crimes. We will not be intimidated. When we meet the Lannisters tomorrow, it will be with one hundred archers and three hundred mounted northmen and rivermen at our backs."
Robb looked on in quiet awe as his father paced amongst his lords, a different man than he had known his whole life. To Robb, Eddard Stark had always been a humble, upright man, whose life was to see to the stability of the North. The man before Robb now was different. There was a quiet fire within the Lord of Winterfell that he had never seen. It lit a fire within Robb himself. He was no longer the innocent boy who had followed Robert Baratheon down the Kingsroad.
"Lord Karstark, Lord Glover, Lord Manderlay, Lord Hornwood, Lord Royce, Lord Mallister, Ser Edmure, Ser Brynden…I would have you join me tomorrow at this meeting," Ned proposed to the men around him. There were instant replies of acceptance from the men his father had singled out…of which Robb had not been one. "We will show these Lannisters that the northern kingdoms are united against them. See to your camps and your men tonight. We will set out early in the morning to meet our foes."
Robb waited until the other men had dispersed before he approached his father. "My lord, I would accompany you tomorrow as well."
His father looked on hesitantly at Robb's request. "I worry of inflaming tensions if you are to attend, especially if Jaime is present. The man is not the type to take embarrassment well, and you certainly have recently."
"With all respect, Father, the reason we are all here is because of me, the things that I have seen. It would give legitimacy to their lies if I were to be hid away. I've witnessed their crimes and I would be there to look them in the eyes when we finally confront them. I believe I deserve to be there…I need to be there."
Eddard Stark looked on at his son with pride and nodded. He gripped Robb's shoulder "You are right. You do deserve to be there tomorrow, and you will be, right by my side."
"Thank you, Father," Robb answered. A thought coming to his mind, Robb grinned. "Should I bring Grey Wind with me as well?"
Eddard smirked. "I should think so. Let us remind these southerners that the beasts of winter are coming for them."