A/N: For my American readers, happy 4th of July!
Mingyu rowed the boat, along with Arya, Namhee, Renxi, Masaku, and Seonjoo and some others loaned to them by the Free Folk king Mance Rayder. They were moving upstream the White Knife, but rowing against the current was always difficult and it required more energy to be expended on their part. But considering what they were trying to do, it had to be done.
Everyone in White Harbor knew that as long as Rickon Stark was a hostage in Winterfell, it would be near impossible for them to move on Winterfell, since that would risk his life. Sansa clearly said, "I am not going to allow my brother to be put at risk at Ramsay's hands."
"But without Winterfell, we cannot take back the North," Wyman Manderly reminded her. "I don't want Lord Rickon to be in more danger as well, but we cannot delay."
"Is there any way that Rickon Stark can be recovered?" Harrold Hardyng asked.
"No. Considering that it's my brother, he will never allow him out of his sight. And he tried to kidnap me, so he has no intention of meeting us without getting all that he wants," Sansa told him.
Benjen was also frustrated. "A direct assault on Winterfell will take too long, and it will result in many casualties. What's more, even if we do breach it, Rickon will be long dead."
Mingyu raised her hand, catching Sansa's attention. "Yes, Lady Mingyu. What do you have to say?"
"Perhaps… there is a way for Rickon Stark to be recovered safely, and without having to sacrifice many men."
"There is such a way?" Baelish expressed his skepticism.
Mingyu saw his sort many times while in the Jade Order, those who would do anything to get power and wealth and wanted everything. Looking at his demeanor and in his eyes, she instantly distrusted him. "It is risky, Lady Sansa. But unless the others here have a plan that will ensure both Rickon Stark's safety and put Ramsay Bolton right where we want him, allow me to speak."
"We should listen," Kaijin came to her defense. "She is very knowledgeable when it comes to the matters of secret war, and moreover, she has no compunction in doing things that most of us here will never do."
"But what does a foreign woman know of these matters?" Harrold asked.
"Would you like me to demonstrate one more time?" Mingyu referred to her throwing the knife, which silenced Harrold. Harry the Ass indeed, she thought after she heard of what others were calling him by. "Why is she marrying that cunt?" she whispered to herself, although Benjen could hear it and he chuckled. She was soon to be part of Benjen forever, and that would make Sansa family, so she had to start caring about her well-being. If I were here, I'd break off the betrothal, she thought.
"Let's hear her out, please," Benjen pleaded while Mingyu lightly punched his bicep with a grin.
Mingyu outlined her plan. There would be a small group who would strike at Winterfell, but they would row up the White Knife since travelling by the kingsroad would take too long and the route would be watched. And travelling by water was faster and more efficient. However, since the river would also be watched, they needed a distraction and Mingyu sent for one of the dragonriders. In fact, all three came, and it was quite the spectacle at White Harbor.
Daeron, Daenerys, and Rhaenys walked towards Lord Manderly's keep after getting off their dragons, and Mingyu watched the almost bizarre sight of the Targaryens approaching the lord over the North's only city. Sansa, Lord Wyman, and Theon were struck, but all they could do was watch as the three dragonriders, along with his white direwolf Ghost came closer.
"Sansa," Daeron addressed while remaining dignified.
Sansa was the first to respond, by bending her knee, with Lord Manderly, Harrold Hardyng, and even Baelish following suit. Sansa kept her head down. However, Daeron allowed her to stand up and hugged her. Mingyu could even make out his whispers in her ear: "Next time, you don't need to be so formal with me. Let us move on from the past, hmm?"
Mingyu found him more interesting, in that he was willing to quickly forgive others, even among family. Mingyu forgot what that was like to have a warming family like that, but with Benjen, she was able to see what was possible. And it will soon be forever.
Mingyu watched as Daeron shook the hands of Lord Manderly, Harrold Hardyng, and even Baelish, since that was the proper etiquette. But when he came to Theon, Daeron did not say anything, before he punched him across the face. Theon fell to the ground, clutching his cheek while he was not screaming, to his credit. That caused the red-haired woman named Ygritte to raise her knife in response, which was natural since they were lovers.
Lord Manderly, as well as the other northerners, nodded in approval, and Mingyu knew why.
"That's for what you did at Winterfell, you son of a bitch," Daeron growled at him.
Theon rubbed his cheek while he got himself back up. "I deserved that, Jon."
"That's 'Your Grace' to you," Daenerys snapped at him. "You don't get to say his name."
"He doesn't kneel to anyone," Ygritte spoke back to her.
"I hear that he bit the hand that fed him. Is it not proper for him to receive more than a punch to his face?" Rhaenys pointed out.
Before Ygritte could respond, Theon shook his head before facing Daeron. "Well… Your Grace, I will be properly judged by you. And it is because of me that Rickon became a hostage."
"You're damn right that you will be judged, Theon, but not now."
"You just came from the Vale, Your Graces?" Baelish asked him.
"That's right. But right now, what is important is to rescue Rickon," Daeron reminded him. Meanwhile, Arya, who had joined with her Jade Order companions, hugged Sansa tightly, both sisters crying after not seeing each other for so long. It warmed Mingyu very much, to see them both have a moment despite what Arya said of their relationship before their father died. Blood is still blood, and no one else can truly understand loss, Mingyu told herself.
The reason as to why Mingyu wanted the dragonriders here in the North was to provide a distraction. If three dragons were to burn a portion of the lands around Winterfell, that will grab the attention of Ramsay Bolton and his supporters, thus allowing them an opening. While they are focused on the dragonfire, they will never notice us as we approach them, Mingyu thought.
"You sure this will work?" Arya whispered to Mingyu.
"I'm certain of it," Mingyu murmured. "They'll never expect something like this."
As they finally got closer to Winterfell, they heard the three dragons break out in roars before they saw fire in the distance. They would burn the fields to the west, while Mingyu, Arya, and the others would come from the east. They all bore witness to the spectacular power of the dragons, even from a distance.
After they came to the closest point from the White Knife to Winterfell, they all got off their boats and ran the last few miles towards it. The Free Folk would provide extra support and protect the boats, while Mingyu, Arya, and her Jade Order companions would do the deed of getting Rickon out.
They were all dressed in black cloaks and wore masks made up of black cloth that covered everything except their eyes. Any skin that remained visible from their masks was covered black paint, as the skin could reflect from any light. They hugged the walls and after seeing a few guards on duty, Mingyu and Arya pulled out ropes and metal hooks, throwing them up to the battlements.
This was a common tactic of the shinobi of old. Once a few men climbed onto the wall, they would use stealth and speed to kill any guards who were still awake and then signal the rest to move in. Securing the ropes, Mingyu and Arya nodded to the rest and started climbing. The Jade Order companions, fastening her foothold on the wall and was careful to maintain their hold on the rope as they walked up the wall. The rope was secured well, as all they needed to focus on was to not lose their footing or her grip. But they had to move fast since they had only a small window before a guard found the hooks.
Luckily, they all made it to the top of the walls. One of the guards spotted them and tried to yell, only for Mingyu to pull out her dagger and throw it, the blade lodging into his throat and filling his mouth with his own blood. They helped the others up on the walls and started to swiftly kill the rest of the guards on duty.
While Mingyu and the others used swords to slash at necks and decapitate, she could see Arya going in the other direction and slashed at a guard with her own sword, cutting his throat before she kicked him to the ground. Before long, all the guards on the wall were dead and the next part of their plan was ready.
They all climbed down a flight of stairs to the courtyard and took on another few guards. Mingyu used an upward slice that struck a guard's leg, bringing him down before she lodged her blad into his heart. With those in courtyards still empty and distracted from the dragonfire display, all of them moved carefully towards the Great Keep.
They did not expect to run into a servant, with Mingyu holding her mouth to keep her quiet.
"Wait," Arya stopped her. "Turnip?"
Turnip recognized Arya, with Mingyu taking her hand from her mouth while warning her to be quiet. "My lady. You're back."
"Who is she?" Mingyu asked.
"It's Turnip, the daughter of Gage, the cook. She helps in the kitchen."
Mingyu didn't want to waste time. "Where's Rickon Stark?"
"He's locked in the library turret, my lady," Turnip told Arya.
"Show us," Mingyu commanded.
"Please, Mingyu." Arya jumped in. "She's kind. And I know where that is."
Still moving silently, with Turnip keeping quiet and even helping them, they came to the library turret, running back across the courtyard. Turnip found the key and inside was a boy along with an older man keeping him company.
"Rickon," Arya let out.
"Arya?" Rickon stood up. After a moment of seeing if they were still imagining things, they hugged, each of them crying after not seeing each other for so long. "You've grown, Arya."
"So have you. Where's Shaggydog?" Rickon shook his head, which was what Arya needed. "He'll be avenged, Rickon."
"Wait. You're leaving?" the old man asked.
"And who are you?" Mingyu asked.
"Maester Wolkan, the new one for Winterfell."
"You can come if you want," Arya offered.
"I can't leave this castle. This is my post and I cannot abandon my lord."
Mingyu looked at Arya in confusion, with her raising her shoulder. "They're like that."
"Well, I can't kill you, since you're not a threat," Mingyu told him.
"What will you do, then?"
Mingyu kneed him in the gut before he got on his knees, allowing her to slam his head on the table and knock him out cold.
"Why'd you do that?" Rickon asked her, shock across his face.
"Showing him mercy. He can't be punished, if we made it appear that we forced our way in."
"Hit me as well," Turnip said.
"Why?" Arya asked.
"My father is still here, and I can't leave him. Hit me."
Arya did the deed, by turning her around and knocking her out as well after hitting her head against the wall. "Sorry."
"Let's go," Mingyu urged them.
After getting down the ropes, Mingyu and Arya cut them before they ran to the boats. There, the Free Folk waited before they rowed back south on the White River.
Arya and Rickon spent the next few moments hugging each other, brother and sister being reunited after everything that had happened. And Mingyu allowed them that.
If only I had my brother to do that with, Mingyu thought sadly. She never had much memory of her family, something that she grew to envy after seeing the Starks and Targaryens.
But she put that aside, to put her mind on what was to follow. She knew that with Rickon safe, there was now nothing to stop Winterfell from being assaulted.
Garlan looked at the disposition of the enemy forces under the Lannisters through the Myrish eye, with Robb Stark, Randyll Tarly, Cayn Moss, and General Simin Keem of the Jade Company doing the same thing.
"The scouts report at least fifty thousand men under the command of Tyrek Lannister, Ser Garlan," Randyll Tarly said to Garlan. "It could be a tough fight, since numbers don't necessarily win battles."
"Agreed, my lord," Garlan concurred before turning to Robb. "Lord Robb, what do you think?"
Robb put down his Myrish eye. "I never actually fought against Tyrek Lannister, but I heard tell that Tyrek Lannister is among the better ones. Takes after his father Tygett Lannister very much."
"That is true," Garlan confirmed. "Tyrek Lannister temporarily disappeared after the riots in King's Landing, but they found him a few days later. It's fortunate that House Lannister was able to have such a talented man among them, but unfortunate for us."
"And there is the other one, Emory Lannister, son of Reginald Lannister," Randyll added.
"Now him, I know well," Robb told them all. "Emory is unlike his father, in that he actually knows how to fight and knows when to keep his mouth shut. He gave my bannermen some trouble when we penetrated the westerlands."
"That matches what I know about him as well," Garlan agreed. "It's a shame that we're facing the young ones of House Lannister, and the ones who are most able."
"We still have to approach this carefully, my lords," Randyll reminded them. "One wrong move on our part would allow the Lannisters to defeat us. It is imperative that we make our first major battle a victory, since that will make the rest of the Lannisters' banners start to waver."
"Agreed," Garlan nodded. He then had to turn to both Cayn Moss and Simin Keem. "Both of you good sers, what are your assessments on the force before us?"
Cayn Moss, the captain-general of the Company of the Rose and thus the unofficial leader of the northern exile sellsword companies, was the first to speak. "See how they're arranged? They brought their archers forward. They plan to soften us up with an arrow barrage, their aim clearly against our center force. Once they do, they will be able to distract us and bring in their flanks to bear. We cannot allow that to happen."
"General Keem?" Garlan asked the Yi-Tish man.
"Well, my lord Garlan, before we allow the archers to get a volley on us, we must preempt them. We can open with a salvo of cannon to soften them up, and them move in those with the tanegashima under protection of light foot and light horse to engage them at close range. We can eliminate their archers in a matter of minutes, and then we make them respond to us," Keem explained. "Once that happens, they will have to move in with a part of their force earlier than they would have planned, and that will be our chance."
"I like that," Garlan expressed. "Let us proceed, good sers."
Robb Stark was mostly in charge of the sellsword portion of the force, since both he and his subordinate Cayn Moss were brethren due to their common origins from the North. Garlan was concerned about him leading part of the army given his failure to control his bannermen that culminated in the Red Wedding. However, after remembering that Robb Stark won most of his battles, Garlan made the case for Robb to serve with him.
"It's not an unreasonable choice, Garlan," his grandmother Olenna told him. "He's more of a leader of troops than a king, so it's best we use his talents where they're most effective."
"And how he performs in this battle would show to us the wisdom of your scheme, grandmother," Willas spoke, as he was also participating in the discussions at Highgarden before Garlan moved out.
"I'm not entirely won over with Robb Stark becoming a member of his family," Garlan was honest. "But he is among the few that is implicitly trusted by the dragons, especially Daeron Targaryen, and he would help safeguard our position in the Seven Kingdoms."
"Precisely," Olenna said to him with an approving look. "We cannot escape the fact that your father did not try hard enough to support Rhaegar Targaryen before the Battle of the Trident, and if our banners supported Rhaegar against Robert Baratheon, the outcome of the Rebellion would have been very different. We must take every measure possible to prevent them from seeking revenge, which is surely on their minds. If I were them, I would not forget those who allowed the man who was both a brother and a father to die, and we are guilty of that."
Garlan was still not won over. "Again, we must use Margaery to secure our family's fortune, or rather our safety this time around."
"I know what I must do, Garlan. And it's not a loss for me, since Robb Stark is good-looking, wise from his experiences, and cares about family, the opposite of Joffrey," Margaery told him. "It'll be fine, Garlan."
"I hope that will be as well," Garlan hugged her. "You have been through enough, so you deserve happiness."
When it came to the other two commanders, Garlan knew that this was Cayn Moss' first time in Westeros, having been born and spent much of his life in Essos as a sellsword before becoming Captain-General of the Company of the Rose. Cayn Moss was not filled with nonsense, and he did not mince words. Whenever it came to doing what needed to be done, such as organizing army supplies and keeping discipline among the ranks, he did it without question. As such, Garlan knew that he could be trusted. I guess no matter how far you go, you can't escape your roots. For Cayn Moss and other northern sellswords… very good breeding there, Garlan commented.
Then came the other high-ranking member of the Jade Company, Simin Keem. He served under Benjen Stark when he was posted at the Yi-Tish city at Si Qo, and given what Garlan heard about Benjen Stark from among the Yi-Tish, General Keem was considered by Garlan to be a competent leader. It certainly showed when he was prompted to demonstrate how the tanegashima and the cannon worked. The results were astonishing for Garlan and the others at Highgarden, for Garlan was struck at how deadly the hand-held tanegashima were like and how effective the cannon was at long range. Garlan was gifted with a smaller version of the tanegashima, which would be held with one hand.
"Thank you for this gift, General Keem," Garlan thanked him. "I shall use it well." And he was thankful that General Keem knew the common tongue of Westeros very well.
While marching along the Rose Road, Garlan saw Randyll Tarly and Titus Peake approach him, along with their formidable banners.
"Good of you to finally join us, Lord Randyll," Garlan addressed him. "The same for you, Lord Titus."
"I merely want to avenge my wife, Ser Garlan," Randyll spoke in his characteristic brisque tone. "The Lannisters are at fault, so they must pay."
"You have our condolences on the death of Lady Melessa, Lord Randyll. She was a lovely woman," Garlan offered.
"I have no need for your condolences, Ser Garlan. I only want my wife's killers to face justice."
"And you shall obtain it." He turned to Lord Titus. "My lord Peake, are you sure that you are willing to fight against your wife's family?"
Lord Peake's wife was Lady Margot Lannister, of distant relation to the Lannisters. "My wife knows to be loyal to her husband, Ser Garlan. And I have no reason to disregard the call to arms from Highgarden, so it is only right that I fight."
"You are most welcome, Lord Titus." Garlan suspected that Lord Titus Peake was seeking to obtain the two lost castles that were taken from his house for their support in the First Blackfyre Rebellion. How he performs in the following battles will determine what rewards he obtains, Garlan told himself.
The army moved up the Rose Road, towards Bitterbridge. Once they cross the Bitterbridge, they would be able to move towards King's Landing and threaten it. But they would have to expect a fight at the bridge itself, since the Lannisters would also know about the bridge's importance and thus ensure that they would never cross it. And as expected, they did find an enemy forced there led by Tyrek Lannister.
Garlan Tyrell rode with Robb Stark and Randyll Tarly as they prepared themselves for what would become the first major clash of the Seven Kingdoms. They had under their command the banners of House Tyrell, House Tarly, House Peake, and various other houses that had answered the call to arms from Highgarden. Along with the forces of the Company of the Rose, the Wolf Pack, portions of the Dornish spears that had made it this far, and the formations from the Jade Company, they had an army numbering at over sixty thousand men. All of them were well-equipped, while those from the Jade Company were equipped with new weapons that could eject projectiles with the use of black power and carry them over long distances. At the same time, they were wise not to underestimate the Lannisters' capabilities.
As they foresaw, the enemy archers were about to move into position, to soften their forces up with an arrow barrage.
"Let's open fire on them, General Keem," Robb commanded.
"Yes, Lord Robb." General Keem then ordered the cannoneers to load in that unique Yi-Tish tongue of theirs, and Garlan saw the crews load the shot and black powder into the large metal tubes. Then came a series of thundering roars that echoed throughout the field, followed by a series of dirt being kicked up and explosions at the enemy forces. While the Lannisters' banners immediately suffered casualties, it was mostly to scare them and make them break up their tight formations. That would cause mass panic among their enemy forces, and some of the cannon shots landed on the enemy archers, which would stop them from letting off a volley of arrows.
"Move up the firearms!" Robb shouted. With his nod, General Keem commanded the tanegashima soldiers closer towards the bank, where they fired in volleys that decimated the enemy archers. Three volleys were all that it took for the tanegashima soldiers to wipe out the archers, which was what they needed to see.
After that, they saw the Lannister's left flank move towards them, attempting to cross the river.
"See that? They're panicking. They saw their archers be cut down, so they are trying to get at us," Cayn Moss pointed out.
"Very good," Garlan noted before turning to Lord Randyll Tarly. "Cut them off. Don't let them breath, my lord."
"With pleasure," Randyll responded before he and the troops of the right flank advanced forward in kind to meet the enemy's left flank.
"We should also show aggressiveness on our part. Have our cavalry move forward in kind," Robb suggested.
"Agreed," Garlan bobbed his head before he turned to Titus Peake. "I leave that to you, Lord Titus. Do your house proud."
"As you wish, Ser Garlan." Titus Peake then had his bannermen move across the river and begin the attack on the Lannister's right flank.
"We should keep the pressure on the army, by continuing the volleys from the cannons and from the tanegashima. And we should also get our center ready, so that when they do commit, we'll be ready for them."
"Of course." While they were talking, the cannons were still firing on the Lannisters.
But Garlan turned to see the enemy's left flank, to see them being pushed back by the Lannisters' knights and men-at-arms. "What?"
"Randyll Tarly is struggling," Robb expressed, not believing his eyes.
"He must be losing his touch already," Garlan said before he turned to Cayn Moss. "Good Moss, I would suggest you get your men ready. Lord Randyll Tarly might need some help after all."
"Will do."
Hold, Lord Randyll. Don't let them get another inch, Garlan said to him silently.
Emory Lannister gulped, as he watched the battle unfold before his eyes. The enemy missile troops had outranged their own, causing massive casualties among their archers, while larger weapons were causing casualties and chaos from among the rest of the ranks. This caused the left flank led by Lord Garrison Prester to charge forward prematurely, and the banners who met them in response was those led by Randyll Tarly, who was considered among Westeros' finest warriors. However, for some reason, Prester was doing much better than expected. He was pushing back Randyll Tarly, and thus making good progress past the river.
"No," Tyrek told Emory. "We should not send reinforcements yet to Lord Prester."
"Why shouldn't we?" Emory asked him.
"I think that Randyll Tarly is intentionally not fighting as hard as he would be normally. The enemy forces that are engaging us and doing well belong to both Lord Tarly and Lord Peake," Tyrek noticed. "The enemy has not committed their main forces—"
He was soon interrupted by another explosion happening behind them, causing Tyrek, Emory, and Lord Bronn to duck in response.
"How the fuck do they have weapons that are able to hit us?" Even the cool-headed Bronn, the famed one who was once addressed as Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, was showing nervousness at the new weaponry that they were facing.
"If they are able to cause this many casualties from this distance and without our own archers getting off a single volley, we are—" Another explosion interrupted Tyrek before he continued.
"Cousin," Emory said to him. "I think we should give Lord Prester the reinforcements now."
"We have no idea on how many reserves that they have. As far as I can see, we're only dealing with a small part of their forces. You see that Tyrell banner over there?" Tyrek pointed directly in the distance ahead of them. Emory nodded after noticing it. "I bet my ass that Ser Garlan has more men in reserves, and if we send reinforcements to Lord Prester, we might be sending into certain death if they respond with reserves."
"But Lord Prester is doing well. We should at least give him a thousand men," Emory pressed Tyrek.
Tyrek let out a short exhale before he nodded his consent. "All right. Send them a thousand men."
Emory nodded to the rider, who relayed the order.
Emory was already fearful of how this battle was turning badly for them. Not only were they outmatched by the first opening moves of their enemies, he realized that they were facing an enemy equipped with tools that gave them an overwhelming advantage over them in terms of distance. But that was not the most demoralizing part. The Tyrells, once their saviors at the Battle of the Blackwater Bay, were now the ones who would cause the most harm to the Lannisters with their numbers, which affected morale among the ranks. Marching with the Lannisters was none other than Robb Stark himself, the direwolf king who made the westermen afraid with his victories before he was betrayed at the Red Wedding, and to see him alive after defying the odds and coming back with a very powerful force caused many to even more afraid. Both the Tyrells and Robb Stark were also backed up by the Yi-Tish, who Emory knew were proud people who were also advanced in every way, and sellswords who were descended from northern exiles of old and proved their mettle in the many conflicts that occurred throughout Essos. And enough said about who oversees them all, and we should all thank the Seven that the dragons are not here right now, Emory thought.
Tywin gave the order for the army, fifty thousand men in total, to march down the rose road, with his words being, "Burn down Highgarden and salt their vineyards." But as they approached Bitterbridge, they received news that that their enemies were already on the march and thus the battle would be fought at the stone bridge. The first thought that they had was where the dragons were, with Kevan telling them in a raven, "They won't be fighting at Bitterbridge. They are busy elsewhere, gaining support from the Vale."
That bit of news was not comforting for Emory and the others, for that still meant that they still had to deal with a major force coming their way, and the sight of their enemy's forces at Bitterbridge was indeed a sight to behold. They estimated at least sixty thousand men facing them, which outnumbered them since they had fifty thousand. But if we do this carefully, we can win, Emory assured himself.
Leading them was Tyrek Lannister, son of Tygett Lannister. His father, the fourth son of Tytos Lannister, was Tywin's brother and was the one who held the best combat abilities of the brothers. Unfortunately, Tygett died from an outbreak of disease and therefore leaving Tyrek to fill in the gap that he left behind. He was a squire of King Robert alongside with his cousin Lancel, who Emory disrespected very much. A handsome man with golden curls, he acquitted himself well during the early stages of the War of the Five Kings and temporarily disappeared during the riots of King's Landing. He turned up a moon later, after being unconscious from a blow and a family of lowborn taking care of him. That family was rewarded, and Tyrek brought back into service. He proved himself a much more capable knight and warrior, in the manner of his father, and Tywin put him in charge of most of the minor work of the City Watch as a sign of his trust, which was not easy to obtain. And it only made sense for Tyrek to take command of the army, since there were only three Lannisters that Tywin could truly trust with his life, one of whom was Tyrek's uncle Lord Kevan and Tyrek himself. The other one is his son Jaime, who is currently turning back from around the Vale to come back to King's Landing after they abandoned the Boltons to their fate, Emory thought.
The other leader was Lord Damon Marbrand, head of House Marbrand. Damon Marbrand was an old fighter, still willing to fight for Lord Tywin and the Lannisters. Damon's seat at Ashemark was taken by Robb Stark during the King in the North's campaign in the westerlands, so he had all the reason he needed to continue fighting against the ones who were supporting the direwolves and the dragons. But Lord Marbrand was old, and therefore his abilities in combat was put in doubt. However, to not slight him, he was given command of the right flank.
Lord Garrison Prester was the head of House Prester, one of the principal noble houses in the westerlands. He was also old, but he was loyal and was given the task of leading the left flank. And he's doing well so far.
However, as soon as the archers were wiped out, the enemy's center force pushed forward towards the bank. That was a serious threat in itself, since their lack of archer support and the continuing barrages from their new weapons meant that they would be able to push forward on their own terms and be able to negate their initial gains.
"We must commit the center, Tyrek," Emory begged him. "Our left flank is already engaged, and our right flank is struggling. We must engage at once, negate the enemy's advantage in their distance weapons and others."
"Boy's got a point," Bronn told him. "We must press forward, or we're going to be fucking in the mouth and in the ass."
In other times, Emory would have been amused with Bronn's support of him using humor. But now was not the time for him to tolerate it. "My lord Daggett, we cannot delay any longer. Look at the banners of House Peake."
Tyrek turned his eyes towards their right flank. The banners belonging to House Peake were holding firm. While they were not making any advances, they were also not allowing their right flank to make advances of their own, which was looking very bad since that would lead their entire flank exposed. Emory was worried about being surrounded and encircled, which would lead to an all-out rout of their army.
Emory turned back to Tyrek and shook him. "Tyrek, please. Give the order, or we'll be wiped out."
Tyrek nodded once before he had the herald blow the horn. "Advance forward."
Emory, Tyrek, and Bronn moved forward with their center forces, to meet the ones that had the banners of Tyrell, Stark, and others as well as the banners of the northern sellsword companies. As they had to retake the advantage, they had to move quickly, with them being able to cross the river before their foes did.
When that happened, Emory was thrust into the fray. Taking out his sword, he went to work in slashing at his enemies. He parried a pike and stabbed the pikemen in the chest, crushed the skull of another while he was turned around and distracted, and he slashed at one's throat, decapitating him in the process. Blood spilled and splattered across his face, and he allowed himself to feel the familiar feeling he got from whenever he fought in battle.
Emory then found himself in a swinging match with a knight belonging to House Tyrell. They banged each other's swords, the steel ringing and the force of their blows being felt in their wrists, before their horses pushed each other away. Before there was enough distance being put between them, he found an opening and pushed the knight off his mount. That should keep him busy, Emory knew.
"Look!" Bronn pointed towards the left, his face also covered in blood. And what Emory saw made him feel petrified.
While Randyll Tarly had appeared to be struggled and would allow the Lannister banners to do a near outflanking, he had withdrawn before returning with fresh Dornish reserves. That negated what Lord Prester was able to achieve, and Emory could see that the men wearing the red ox sigil of the House of Prester were being cut down. Eventually, that would allow the enemy to complete their outflanking.
"Tyrek. Lord Prester is collapsing!"
Tyrek also saw it and knew what had to be done. "Sound the retreat! Retreat!"
"Fall back!" Bronn shouted while Emory was doing the same for the men around him.
Before he was able to move away from the field of battle, he saw a grey blur jump towards him and push him off his horse. The grey blur turned out to be Grey Wind, Robb Stark's direwolf, and Emory was struggling to keep the direwolf's jaws from his face. However, he was only able to do so by allowing the direwolf to gnaw at his arm, and he could feel the bones crush.
"AHHHH!" Emory cried out in pain, once he realized that the direwolf would first tear off his arm and then kill him in the most gruesome way possible.
"That's enough, boy." Emory felt the direwolf get off him while he recognized Robb Stark, who looked more like a rugged man rather than the young king who led the North into ruin. "Good to see you again, Emory Lannister."
Emory controlled his fear, but he could say nothing to hide his shock.
Robb had no time for him, other than to say, "I'll have someone see to your arm. A good warrior like yourself should not lose it, wouldn't you agree?"
"So, I'm to be your hostage then?"
"Not just mine. His," Robb pointed to Garlan Tyrell, who was leading other men towards chasing the stragglers from the Lannister force.
Emory looked round and saw that as much as they lost many, the men under at least House Tarly and House Peake seemed to litter the ground, the ones who did most of the fighting and dying on behalf of the dragons and with Robb Stark at their side. They didn't come out of this battle unbloodied, he took comfort it.
Emory laid his head back on the ground, glad that he was alive but disheartened of what he saw. We just got beaten, he thought.
A/N: Now nothing is to stop Ramsay from meeting his inevitable end.
And the battle was based on Avarayr (451), which took place between the Armenians and the Sassanid Persians.
