They had been back but an hour, and the feeling in the camp had changed instantly. Everything was real now, and there would be no truce. Preparations moved to a blistering speed.
"My lords, time is short," Eddard Stark said. Robb's Father stood at a round table, surrounded by each and every river and northern lord who had leant their forces to his considerable host. On the table, a large, ragged map of the Riverlands laid sprawled between them. "Tywin Lannister will not allow us to dally here unmolested. We must be prepared for an attack, imminently."
"Preparations are almost complete, Ned," Tytos Blackwood stated. "The last of pitch and straw is being laid on our flanks. Trenches have been dug. They will find it no easy march into our lines."
"Good," Ned answered. "It would be a fool's errand to try and charge us with cavalry, but I would not put it past them. Unfortunately, their numbers will allow them the luxury of such gambles. Tytos, I would see you remain on the walls, directing the defense."
"Of course," Lord Blackwood nodded. "They will not breach our walls. We will unleash all measures of terror possible on them."
Several of the men around the table laughed at Lord Blackwood's promise, and even Ned Stark managed a grin. "Aye, I'm sure you will, friend." Ned turned back to the map. "Our forces will be split equally to the east and west of the castle. I will command the eastern side and Lord Umber will command the west. There will be two lines of infantry, with archers forming ranks behind them. Cavalry will guard our flanks, and be held back in reserve. As soon as a gap in our line forms, our horse will fill the gaps."
"Our lines won't break for these little southern girls, Ned," Greatjon Umber growled, pounding his fist on the table.
"I have faith in every man at this table," Ned continued, turning serious. "I would not have called you here to this moment, if I did not believe that we would be victorious. See that your men are ready, and get them into formation. We will not be caught by surprise."
The room began to clear, and Robb meant to follow the rest, but his Father signaled him to stay. When it was only the two of them, Ned Stark walked to him and placed a hand on Robb's shoulder. "I would have you beside Lord Umber and Lord Royce when the fighting begins."
"Why?" Robb questioned, displeased.
"Lord Umber is a fierce, competent fighter, and I have know few better men than Yohn Royce. I would trust you to fight next to no other men. There is less a chance that both of us would fall, should we fight apart. I am the Lord of Winterfell, and you are my heir. Should we both fall, that responsibility would fall on Bran and he cannot walk, let alone lead our house and our people, not with winter coming, and Lannisters at our heels. Do you understand, son? Our family has defended the north for a thousand years, and that must not change."
Robb nodded, reluctantly. "I understand, Father… but you're wrong."
"Oh?"
"Bran may be too young to lead our family, but there is another Stark who could, should the both of us fall," Robb argued. "Jon may be a bastard, but he's still my brother. He still has our blood. He's already fought to defend our house."
Ned was contemplative at Robb's words, and he could see something deeper lingering in his Father' eyes. "He does not have our name, son."
"So give it to him, Father. Name him a Stark. There is no king now whose permission you must seek. Say it and it will be so. Among our family and among our lords."
"I will think on it, son," Ned promised. "Things are not always as simple as they seem. There are things that you do not know, that I am not ready to tell. Promise me one thing, Robb."
"What is it?"
"If something should happen to me, go to the Neck and seek out Lord Reed."
"Why, Father?"
"He will know why, and that's all I will say on it now. There are more pressing concerns at hand."
Robb wanted to ask more, but conceded that it was not the time. "Aye, Father. May I be excused to see to my preparations?"
"Of course, son," Ned nodded, placing both hands on Robb's shoulders, giving Robb a look that left him with a lump in his throat. "We will see each other when this is done and the day is ours." Robb gave his Father a long look, before bowing his head and moving to take his leave.
"Robb," Eddard called again, forcing Robb to stop and turn back. "I just wanted you to know, I approve of your marriage to Lady Margaery. I think she will make a good Lady of Winterfell one day. Sometimes not all southern influences are a bad thing. Your mother is proof of that."
"Thank you, Father. Your approval means a great deal," Robb smiled, before continuing on his way.
The godswood was empty except for Robb and Grey Wind, who was laid on the ground where his master kneeled before the enormity of Raventree Hall's weirwood. There was an odd quiet to the place, even with the flurry of activity around him, one that Robb found refreshing. He casually ran his hand over his familiar's head, becoming lost in the rhythm of it. His thoughts were everywhere, but they inevitably drifted to Margaery, alone in Riverrun where he had left her. While his mind was plagued by the idea that he may never see her beautiful face again, or feel the enticing smoothness of her golden skin, he tried to focus on what laid ahead should they be victorious…marriage, children. Just the thought of it was enough to warm him against the chill in the air. His momentary solace was interrupted by the crunch of footsteps behind him.
"I knew I'd find you here," Jon said, as Robb turned to see his brother approach. Jon had tied back his long hair and had opted for a long leather tunic instead of the heavier plate that Robb wore. Robb was curious to see that his brother was also carrying two bows. As Robb stood, Jon held up the bow in his right hand and threw it to him.
"What's this for?" Robb questioned.
"The Greatjon wants as many bows on the line as possible," Jon explained. "As he said it, no use for us to be sitting on fucking horses watching when we could be making ourselves useful. I trust you remember how to use one of these."
"I think I can manage," Robb grinned, running his hand along the string, feeling the tension. "Into the fray again, Snow."
"Ready for it?"
"No choice in the matter," Robb replied. Just as the words left his mouth, a blast from a horn broke their conversation. Robb looked at his brother, and both knew immediately what it meant. The Lannisters had come.
"Grey Wind, with me!" Robb yelled, as he and Jon began moving out of the godswood and towards the gates. They ran into a throng of others, some clamoring to get up to the top of the castle walls, while others were also heading for the gates. Robb looked up and saw Lord Blackwood commanding the defenses with precision.
With some effort, Robb and Jon managed to find themselves outside the castle walls, and eventually to where their horses were tethered. Theon and Gendry were there waiting for them, already mounted on their own horses. None said a word as Robb and Jon took to their mounts. Grey Wind and Ghost ran ahead, knowing they would be called when needed. Robb led them towards the cavalry lines that were only just beginning to form. The lines of infantry and archers had almost already been set. For the first time, Robb noticed as thick plumes of black smoke began to invade the sky in the distance, evidence that the pitch that had been laid has been set alight. The four riders continued along the cavalry line until they reached where the Greatjon, Lord Royce, Edmure Tully and Bryden Tully were surveying the lines.
"Good of you to join us boys," the Greatjon greeted them. "I was afraid you were going to miss all the killing."
Robb turned and finally got his first look at the enemy, both a terrifying and impressive sight to behold. Thousands, at least forty if Robb had to guess, of soldiers in red and gold move in meticulous precision towards their position. The most alarming vision was that of the Lannister's mounted force. The number of riders far exceeded their own. They would never win a straight fight in an open battle with them, which meant their defensive position would have to be solid. Robb looked to the closest tower of Raventree Hall and saw the men preparing a great black scorpion, one of four that protected the castle.
"Robb, when the fighting starts in earnest, I would have you lead the the horse closest to the castle," the Greatjon said, pointing out the nearest group of riders. "If the line falters, you fill the hole,"
"We'll hold," Robb promised, as the Greatjon and the other lords moved further along the line.
Robb and the others dismounted from their horses and handed the reins to several other younger boys who would hold them until they were needed. A squire ran and fetched Robb, Jon and Theon bunches of arrows. Gendry was beside them, a newly forged war hammer in his grasp, along with a giant shield. Though Robb had been sparring with Gendry with swords, the blacksmith had little skill in the use of bow, so he had volunteered to provide them cover from incoming missiles.
Robb stepped into the nearest line of archers, made up primarily of soldiers from Runestone and Riverrun. He unlashed his bunch of arrows and began to embed the tips of each into the ground so that he could reload his bow faster. He looked forward again, and saw that the front of the Lannister force was almost in range of their archers, certainly already reachable for the men positioned on the walls of the castle and the towers.
"Nock arrows, men!" The Greatjon hollered, as men left and right of Robb readied arrows on their bows. "We're going to give these southern cunts a proper greeting."
Robb reached down and grabbed his first arrow, positioning it on the bowstring, while Jon and Theon did the same beside him. He stepped back with his right foot, making sure he was properly balanced, Ser Roderick's years of instruction going through his head. He looked to the enemy again, who had finally halted their advance. Now that they were closer, it was easier to pick out the different banners. His eyes unconsciously picked out the golden rose of Highgarden in the distance, and he trained his bow away to another target, the thought of killing the bannermen of Margaery's family irking him.
"On my word!" The Greatjon called again, and now Robb held his breath as he pulled back on the string and lofted his bow towards the sky, trying to discern the perfect angle. "Loose!"
A great thrum sounded as thousands of arrows took to the sky. They flew high as they crested to the peak of their arc, and then sailed down into the enemy lines. There were loud thumps as arrows embedded into shields, but equal also were the cries of agony as the arrowheads met relenting flesh.
"Nock!" The order came behind them again. Robb pulled another arrow from the earth and readied. "Loose!" The second volley left their lines and crashed into the enemy, the sounds of dying echoing across the battlefield. From the towers, Robb could hear the louder fire coming from the scorpions, bringing death.
"Incoming!" Came a shout from the front of their lines. Robb looked up and saw a rain of arrows coming towards them. Robb crouched, making himself as small as possible, while Gendry stepped in front of them with a long shield. Fortunately, the shield was not needed, as the the first Lannister volley barely reached the front of their infantry lines. There were piercing screams from the injured, but Robb did his best to ignore them as he reached for his next arrow. The commands from the Greatjon fell off and the archers were now loosing at will. Another volley of Lannister arrows fell, followed by another, each creeping closer, to the point where Gendry was forced deflect several arrows. Robb's concentration was momentarily lost as he watched an arrow pierce the eye of a man to the right, the arrowhead escaping through the back of the skull.
Shaking himself and pulling another arrow, Robb took a moment to look at the damage they were inflicting, and noticed that the onslaught from Lord Blackwood's walls was having a dramatic impact. An entire line of the Lannister center had been pummeled and forced to move back from the endless stream of arrows, leaving a trail of bodies behind. The Stark lines were taking some casualties from the Lannister attacks, but the castle defenses were left unmolested. More arrows landed beside Robb, dropping several of their archers, but he continued on. This exchange went on for several more minutes, until the Lannister volleys began to slow. Robb stared into the distance and realized that the enemy had become tired of the stalemate, and about a third of their horse had advanced to the front of their lines. One moment they were stationary, and then the next, the cavalry line was charging.
"Shields and spears!" the Greatjon roared. "Hold your lines! Archers bring them down!" The front infantry line packed into airtight formations, locking shields while the men behind readied their spears against the approaching charge. Robb reached down to his dwindling bunch of arrows, pulled one and aimed towards the approaching horsemen. He loosed and without even a thought to the arrow's flight, reached for another. Hitting a moving target was much more difficult, but their archers managed to fell a large number of the charging enemy before they were suddenly upon the northern line. Whether the first group of Lannister riders failed to notice the trenches and spikes or simply ignored them was unclear, but what was certain was that they felt their impact. Both men and beast cried as they fell into the pits, limbs broken and bodies skewered. Some of the fallen riders abandoned their mounts and rushed towards the norther lines, only to be quickly impaled by a spear. Unfortunately, the fallen bodies began to fill the trenches, allowing riders to passage over the trenches. They slammed into the wall of shields, hacking at them, before being stabbed at with a flurry of spear strikes.
While the lucky few horsemen that had managed to reach the Stark line continued to try and battle their way through, Tywin had given the signal for his infantry to move in. Instead of a frantic charge, they moved together in squads, perfectly in step. Robb realized that the next, more bloody part of the battle was about to begin.
"We need to move," Robb said as he turned to Jon, who had just loosed another arrow. "Their going to be upon us soon enough."
"Last arrow," Jon acknowledged, reaching for his final arrow and picking a target. Robb watched as his brother loosed his arrow and struck down one of the remaining riders from the initial horse charge. It was an impressive shot, Robb had to say. "Alright let's move."
"Show off," Robb accused, dropping his bow and moving back towards the horses. He grabbed back the reins from his horse and pulled his armored body up. He detached his helm and shield from where they were latched and drew his sword, just as the Lannister infantry began to clash with their own. It was gruesome fighting, men smashed together, hacking away at whatever was in reach. Bodies were beginning to pile up, forcing fighters to climb over them to reach their targets.
The arrow attacks from the Lannisters had ceased completely, as to not risk hitting their own men. Robb looked down their line and saw that it was still holding solidly, even if it had bent inwards and outwards in certain places. He felt somewhat helpless as he watched men slowly dying while he sat on his horse and watched. He looked towards the castle, uselessly hoping that he could gain some knowledge as to what was happening on the other side with his Father's force. The men on the walls were still firing a constant barrage of arrows down upon the Lannister attackers.
Just as he was about to look away from the castle, he almost slipped off his horse in surprise as he watched one of the corner towers explode, a shower of heavy rock and bodies raining on the surrounding combatants below on the ground. He looked toward the enemy and saw that they had managed to quickly construct a trebuchet, the obvious cause of the damage to their defenses.
"Robb!" His attention was drawn back to the immediate battle around them, and he realized that the Greatjon was calling to him. He looked to the large Lord of Last Hearth who was pointing towards the front corner of the castle. Robb looked and realized that a large chunk of the ruined tower had fallen into their line and scattered it. Some men had been crushed, and others forced back, but the Lannister foot soldiers had pressed their advantage and moved into the gaps. "Robb! Hold the line at the castle or they'll get behind us!"
Not wasting a moment, Robb urged his horse forward, turning to the group of riders with him. "With me!" Robb ordered, raising his sword. "Hold the line!" Robb turned his horse around and raced towards the weak spot. He held the reins with the hand on his shield arm while he brought his sword back, ready to strike. The Lannister soldiers had their backs up against the castle's moat, and were teetering on the edge. Feeling reckless, Robb forced his horse into a sprint, riding right towards them, but stopping just inches away. The feint was enough to spook several of the enemy, who forgot their precarious position and fell backwards into the moat to their deaths. Robb began to hack down at the remaining soldiers, slicing through exposed throats and detaching several sword arms. Robb's fellow riders had caught up and were forcing the advancing Lannisters back further.
"Close the lines!" Robb shouted to the infantry who had scattered when the tower fell. "Fill the gaps, now! Archers! Join the line!" Slowly the line began to reestablish itself and Robb brought his riders back behind it. Robb looked and saw that the Blackfish was leading another group or riders towards the end of their lines that looked to be faltering. Robb's mount lurched briefly as another large stone from the trebuchet crashed into the walls of Raventree Hall. This time the castle had withstood the blow with little damage.
The Lannister attack was beginning to thin, and the Stark line holding strong. Crossbowmen on the castle walls were loosing bolts into the Lannisters, bringing down soldier after solider.
"Robb! Riders approaching," Jon stated, turning Robb's attention. Indeed, about two hundred mounted soldiers had broken away from the main Lannister army and were heading in their general direction.
"That's the fucking Mountain!" Theon called. Robb looked at the head of the incoming riders and instantly knew Theon was correct. The man at the center was the biggest man that Robb had ever seen, and his horse was even larger. It looked like one of the giants from Old Nan's stories was coming right towards them, but this one was dressed in thick plate armor and brandishing a sword bigger than Robb himself. Gregor Clegane charged hard at the Stark line, ignoring the fact that he was trampling over some of his own allies in the process. The Mountain that Rides crashed clear through the first two rows of northerners, bringing his enormous sword straight down through a man's skull. Their men were clearly intimidated, because Robb could see them being driven backwards with little effort.
"They're going to fucking breach us," Robb muttered to no one in particular. He looked back to the Greatjon, but Lord Umber had been pulled down the line towards the Blackfish. "Lord Royce!" Robb called to the Lord of Runestone, who was still positioned not far away, his son Robar beside him. Bronze Yohn Royce looked to Robb, his bronze armor gleaming. "We need to push them back!" The man looked towards the Mountain and nodded, ordering his men to follow.
Looking back to the Mountain, Robb was shocked to see the man had two crossbow bolts sticking in his right shoulder, yet was still pushing forward as if they were a minor nuisance. "We need to bring him down," Robb shouted to the men in front of him. "Take down his horse! Be brave! Don't give a fucking inch or he is going to rape your wives and murder your children!" Someone clearly took Robb's words to heart because the next thing he saw was Clegane's horse keening forward, its legs slashed. The Mountain slid forward off the horse, not giving it another thought. He gripped his sword with both hands and swung it in a wide arc, downing at least five men in the process, several completely disemboweled. Some of his other riders had abandoned their own mounts and were now flanking him, cutting deeper into the north's line.
Robb tried to move closer on his horse, but there was too much congestion in front of him. Realizing it was going too slow, he slid down off of his own horse, swatting it on the rear and driving it away. Jon, Theon, Gendry and another twenty riders did the same, moving to Robb's side. Lord Royce's contingent was quick to follow as well. Robb swatted away several attacks, striking back and felling two Lannisters as he fought towards the Mountain. Eventually they were with within sight of each other, and Robb realized that he was without a clue as to how to take the man down. There did not look to a single weak spot on his body. Robb watched as the monster sliced through four more men and knew he could not wait any longer or the men would lose heart.
While Clegane was in the process of pulling his bloody sword from the depths of a man's guts, Robb moved in and slashed at the man's exposed side. His sword clanked against the armor barely making a scratch on the plate. The Mountain, sword still stuck, balled his left hand into a fist and brought it down fiercely toward Robb, who raised his shield to take the blow. It was like being hit by a battering ram. The ground was slick with mud, blood and guts, and Robb's feet slid several feet back from the blow. A Royce soldier attempt to run up behind the Mountain, but Clegane grabbed the man by his exposed skull and squeezed until an eye exploded from the socket.
Robb looked to his left and right seeing that Jon and Theon were otherwise engaged with some of Clegane's men. Lord Royce and his son were occupied with four men of their own. Gendry stepped up beside Robb, clearly trying to hide the fact that he was terrified of the beast in front of them, clutching his hammer tightly against his chest. "We need to bring him down and disarm him or he's going to tear us apart," Robb said as the Mountain moved closer. Even Grey Wind and Ghost would be of no use against the man, as their was nowhere for their teeth or claws to sink into.
"How do you suggest we do that?" Gendry asked, clearly fighting the urge to move backwards.
"I'm going to try and keep him occupied," Robb answered. "Your hammer may the only thing that can damage his armor. Channel your Father at the Trident and bring him down."
The Mountain came at Robb with his newly freed sword and slashed at him, forcing Robb to duck below. When Clegane brought his sword back around, Robb sprung up and locked swords with the man. He quickly discovered that while he needed both hands on his sword to maintain the attack, the Mountain did not. A mailed fist swung around and pummeled Robb in the side of his head sending him sprawling to the ground in a daze. His whole world felt like it had been turned upside down, and he was sure his helm was bent inwards. He could definitely feel blood running down his face. He tried to clear his vision, but almost wished he hadn't when he saw the Mountain over him, raising his boot to smash through Robb's chest or face. Robb raised his sword in a useless gesture, but then he saw blur of balled steel as Gendry's war hammer cratered the Mountain's planted knee. The clang of steel hammer on steel armor was deafening, and the damage equally devastating. Clegane's entire leg was bent clear in half.
An unholy roar sounded as the Mountain fell, and Robb was forced to roll away or be crushed by the man. Robb stood as Clegane rolled onto his back, looking down at the exposed bones now sticking out from his leg. He reached for his sword, but Robb was faster and tread on the blade, trapping it to the ground. Before the Mountain could reach out with his free hand, Gendry hefted his hammer high above his head, then swung it down towards the Mountain's breastplate as if it was an anvil in his forge. The armor dented considerably and a fountain of blood shot from the the Mountain's mouth. Gendry reached up his hammer again, but this time, with a great yell, he brought it down into the man's helm. There was a sickening crunch as Ser Gregor Clegane's skull caved in and brain matter was expelled down the sides of his helm. There were a few lingering twitches of limbs before the lifeless body ceased moving.
There was brief hush around them as some watched the Mountain die, and Robb looked on at Gendry as the blacksmith stood with a stunned expression, blood dripping from his hammer. "Gendry!" Robb called, getting the young man's attention. "There are more to kill." Gendry nodded and looked around for his next target. Robb saw that Lord Royce had made great progress with his own men, cutting through the Mountain's riders, clearly disheartened by their leader's demise.
"Drive them back south!" Robb shouted, cutting through two more men. The soldiers beside him yelled back with a confident roar as they bashed at the Lannister attackers. The enemy line was thinning and some were beginning to retreat back towards the remaining Lannister army. Several archers had reacquired their bows and were firing arrows to bring down the retreating soldiers. The fighting had all but stopped along their line and Robb looked on in confusion as the Lannister army remained where it was, no further waves of attack heading for them.
Robb looked to Jon, who stood beside him. "Something isn't right," Robb exclaimed. "Why aren't they attacking?"
"Maybe we've scared them," Jon suggested, though the very idea was ridiculous considering who was on the other side.
"No, something is wrong," Robb responded looking around. Then as if hearing Robb's distress, the Lannister army began to march, but not towards their western side of the castle. The entire remaining Lannister force was marching towards his Father's position.
"What are they thinking?" Lord Royce questioned as he sided up to Robb. "If they send their full force there, we could could swing around and fuck them from behind."
"Tywin Lannister is not that foolish," Robb stated.
As they watched the Lannisters march closer, a Blackwood rider approached behind to their position. He was riding hard and the man looked out of breath and shaken. "Lord Stark! Lord Stark!" He called as he approached Robb. "Lord Stark, the Vale has come!"
Lord Royce huffed, "It is about fucking time my countrymen did the right thing and showed their cowardly faces."
The Blackwood rider shook his head emphatically. "You misunderstand me, my lord! They've attacked us from our rear! The defenses are broken!"
Robb's heart dropped into his stomach.