The gods would make it so that Robb's first battle would be fought in a place with a name like "the Whispering Wood."

They had ridden hard from the Twins. Tristan would do everything in his power to sell the deception that he was marching against Tywin Lannister with full force, but every day was a chance for the Lannisters to recognise his deception and ride to link up with each other.

On the way they had picked up other forces. Lord Jason Mallister, unblooded in the war thus far, had joined him with his strength from Seagard, and along the way they had picked up survivors and scattered men, men who had been part of his uncle's strength at Riverrun before being broken by the Kingslayer. They were coming as a trickle, but the news they brought was of far more importance to Robb. In order to besiege Riverrun properly, Jaime Lannister had divided his camps into three, to block all of the walls of the Tully castle. Brynden had told him that it was a smart move, but it left his camp ready for raiding. Ser Marq Piper and Ser Karyl Vance, friends to Ser Edmure and determined knights, were ravaging Lannister scouts and supply lines. The Kingslayer was losing his patience, and this was what Robb took note of. His father told him that an impatient enemy was the easiest to defeat, and already the Kingslayer had rode out from his siege, hunting down the raiders and storming troublesome holdfasts that remained out of Lannister hands.

"Keep them blind, uncle," he had told Brynden, who had only assured him that it would be done as they continued their march. The Mallister foot marched behind them, but the knights joined them in riding against the Lannister siege forces.

Now Robb was readying himself for battle. Ser Brynden had led a small force of knights and outriders to raid the Lannister camp, flying Tully colours as they did so. The Kingslayer would see more raiders and chase after him, and then Robb would close the jaws of his trap.

"Robb, you give me too many men," his mother insisted. His mother had forty men around her led by Hal Mollen from Winterfell. She had wanted ten men and he had wanted fifty, so neither of them left happy. "I would rather you have the men around you."

"No," he said flatly. "Tristan is on the other side of the Green Fork, I believe that Theon will look after him, but I can't control that now; I can control how many men protect you."

How he wished Tristan was here now, they should be fighting their first battle together, side by side, as the twins they were. But Robb knew this was what was best for father, for Arya and Sansa too. If Tristan were here his mother would likely have twenty men around her. The protection of her two eldest children would be worth too much to her to have any more.

His mother bit back a retort, for which he was grateful, he needed to make check his lines. He looked out over the wood. His men were hidden well. He knew that just across the small stream where he intended to spring his ambush, the men of Mormont, Umber and Mallister were massed, like dogs at the slips. The Greatjon had the command, and was merely waiting for his signal to be unleashed. Meanwhile, the Karstarks were waiting to the north of the stream, the direction the Lannisters would be charging. But although he knew where they were, he couldn't see them any longer. He would meet the Lannister's head on and lock them in place as the Tullys turned and joined their strength to his. Meanwhile he had the other northmen and the Freys around his own person.

Then there were the men who were to join him personally; thirty sons of lords who were to join him as his personal guards in the battle. Domeric Bolton and Daryn Hornwood had been sworn to protect him by Tristan, but they were not the only ones. Following his father's example he had picked the men from a variety of houses. Lord Karstark"s younger sons, Eddard and Torrhen joined him, as did Lord Umber's heir, the Smalljon, Dacey Mormont was the only woman of the group, but swore that mail fitted her far better than a dress. Lord Walder had seen fit to stamp his influence here as well. Including his squire Olyvar, five knights of the Twins were to ride alongside him in battle, and Lord Mallister"s heir Patrek also came from the Riverlands. Not all were young however, Ser Wendel Manderly was a man grown, and Robin Flint was as well, but he had faith in them as well as any of his others.

He heard the far of sound of trumpets and new that the Lannisters were approaching. "I must ride the line," he said to his mother and himself. "Father always says to let your men see you, do not ask them to die for a stranger."

"Then let them see you," his mother replied simply giving him a brief smile.

Robb nodded. They would speak more after the battle. He nodded at his squire. Olyvar may be slightly older than he, but he was a competent one, and slipped his greathelm over his head. After he pulled himself into the saddle, the Frey passed him his shield as well. He gently nudged his horse forwards, riding along the line of horsemen who were to join him in battle. He could feel Grey Wind"s constant presence as a shadow beside him as he silently let his men observe that he would be leading them.

He turned as the sounds of Lannister trumpets got closer and closer. As he saw the Tully banners approach the small stream, he felt a sudden emptiness. His father's voice in his head was silent. There was no more advice to give. He had done everything father ever told him. What he did now, would be his own. Would he do his father proud? I am always proud, the voice said one final time and Robb steadied himself as the fist tails of crimson cloth became visible through the trees. He reached down and Olyvar handed him his lance before mounting his own horse.

Even from here he could see the glint of the Kingslayer's armour, a golden jewel upon a tide of blood. He felt his heart steady itself. This was it. If he could take the Kingslayer, the battle would be over and Riverrun would be his for the taking. But he knew it wasn't the right time, if he charged now, the Lannister rear could turn and warn the army outside Riverrun. No, he had to get them all.

He waited, his breath hot inside his helm. The Tully men sprung across the ford and into the woods beyond where the Karstark men were only waiting for his call. The Lannisters began to cross and he counted to slowly to a hundred. As he finished the Lannisters were still crossing. Now was the time, before they stumbled upon the Karstarks. He raised his lance and Grey Wind howled. He put his spurs to his horse as the howl was answered with warhorns from his own men and cheers as they joined him in the charge. They raced down the slope of the valley towards the unsuspecting Lannisters. He heard the warhorns of the Greatjon"s men coming from the other side of the valley, the sounds crashing together in a great cacophony, which was only made louder when the Karstark horns sang their tune.

They descended on the Lannisters like a wave of steel and Robb felt time slow down. This was his part of the battle, he picked out a Lannister knight, with a unicorn on his shield, and began to lower his lance, Tristan may trump him with the sword, but he was the better with the lance. The knight took too long reacting to the warhorns and Robb saw his chance, he lowered his lance and guided it under the knight's arm, punching it into the knight's side. Quickly he pulled back, drawing the steel tip from the knight so that the lance didn't snap inside the knight and he had another blow with it. He picked another knight, this one with a boar on it's tabard, unlike the unicorn knight, this one saw him and raised his sword. Robb kept his breath steady so he didn't panic but roared out a battle cry at the last moment and guided his lance into the new knight's chest.

Now his momentum was stalled so he let his lance fall and pulled his sword free, raining a blow on that boar knight's helm twice before he passed him and locked blades with another Lannister sworn sword. He danced with that knight for a while, their blades sparking off each other as they wheeled around each other, Robb raising his shield to protect himself and cutting back at his foe with abandon. But he wasn't alone for long. One of his Frey allies rode up to the knight's other side and then the knight was simply trying to shield himself from his two enemies. He dropped his sword soon after and raised his hands. "Yield!" Robb heard him cry out and he was dragged from his horse.

He heard the Greatjon's line send up a warcry and felt the ground shake as they slammed into the Lannisters from the other side. Two Lannister knights were in front of him, but Grey Wind charged forwards and they were thrown from their mounts. Robb charged forwards and attacked one of them as he struggle up, using his height advantage to rain blow after blow down on him. The knight was send sprawling and dropped his weapon in surrender. Robb looked at the other knight who was charging at him, mace in hand. But Grey Wind came to his defence, seizing the wrist which held the mace and, with a snarl, he yanked. The straps snapped and the man screamed as his arm tore from his torso with a spurting fountain of blood.

"STARK!" He looked to his left and felt himself pale. The Kingslayer, armoured in gold and with a bloody blade in his hand was charging for him, sworn retainers at his back. He's going to kill me.

He felt himself freeze. Tristan had fought the Kingslayer once, and his skilled brother, his proud brother, had said he was no match for the Lannister knight. And here he was, charging at him with murderous intent. He turned his horse, he wouldn't run, he couldn't, even though the Kingslayer was charging at him and laying about all who came in his way.

"Protect Lord Robb!" A voice cried and a rider, one of his Karstark guards charged forwards. He couldn't tell if it was Torrhen or Eddard, but he was charging the Kingslayer, and he saw a Frey and a Flint join him. The Karstark met the Kingslayer but, after a brief flurry of blows, the Kingslayer was pulling his blade from the man, red with blood. The Frey didn't last much longer, The Kingslayer cutting at his arm and then opening his throat, and then his third guard raised his sword and cut down, the Kingslayer slid aside and split his skull open with a single blow.

"Die Stark!" Jaime Lannister yelled as he charge once again.

"No!" Another rider came charging past, and with that pink surcoat, decorated with blood droplets, he knew it was Domeric Bolton, who had somehow retained his lance.

With perfect accuracy the heir to the Dreadfort lowered his lance and pierced the Kingslayer's horse through the tough and sinewy neck. As the horse reared one last time, Domeric whipped out his sword and disarmed the Kingslayer with his weakened grip. More of his men were swarming the Kingslayer's position and overwhelming the last of the Lannister men who were still fighting.

The battle was won, it was a total victory. He heard cries being taken up by the men of his host. "Young Wolf, Young Wolf, Young Wolf!

He took of his helm and raised his sword in triumph. Warmth spread through him and a smile alighted his face. He had done it. Without his father whispering in his ear, he had taken the Kingslayer captive and won his first battle. "Gather up and count the prisoners," he ordered, swinging himself off his horse and rubbing Grey Wind's bloody muzzle affectionately. He approached Domeric Bolton, who oversaw the binding of the Kingslayer's hands. As Jaime Lannister was dragged away, Robb clapped Domeric on the shoulder. "I owe you my life, Lord Domeric," he said.

"You owe me nothing, my lord," he said, bowing at the waist. "I swore to your brother, your mother and you that I would keep you safe. I honour my word, my lord."

He touched Domeric's shoulder in thanks and looked around. Knights and lordlings of the west were being bound and taken away to be held for ransom or prisoner exchanges. Well done his father said.

"All for you, father," he whispered back as his own lords and warriors gathered to him. "Today was a great victory. But I fear we do not have the time to celebrate or mourn. The Kingslayer's host still rings Riverrun in iron and Steel, we must needs liberate it before they learn what has happened here. Lend me your lances and your swords and ride with me again, to Riverrun!"