Chapter fourteen

Wolves teeth

Rob

Rob Stark was a young boy of only fifteen name days but still the weight of winning a war, leading the North and saving half of his family still rested upon his shoulders. He sat in his tent staring into the flames his mind wandering over the past half a year that he had been on campaign.

Rob was winning.

He had won every single battle he had led although he was sure it wasn't his own prowess at leading but the lessons his lord father had taught all his older children. Rob made sure to listen to council of those with more experience and made sure to foster bonds with his fathers bannermen by riding and supping with a different one each day.

Rob had different goals than the majority of those who followed house Stark. They were angry and wanted to make the lions pay but for Rob he just wants his father and sisters back and safe. The only way this was possible was to have valuable hostages to trade. This is what lead him to where he was now, sat half a league away from the Lannister's waiting for the envoys he had sent to treat with the enemy to return.

Both sides knew it was merely protocol and there would be battle in only a couple of hours. However, traditions must be observed. It was the honourable way. The Stark way.

How much time passed with him sat, lost in thought with him absentmindedly stroking Grey Wind's fur he couldn't tell before his page entered with the news. The Lannister's had refused terms and it would be battle.

He got ready with his men, just as his father would, drinking deeply and feigning confidence in his belief that they would be victorious. It was as he passed Theon Greyjoy that he could relax the facade of Lord Stark for a moment.

"Stay safe Greyjoy. We will still need your bow in the battles to come." Rob said quietly.

"Don't worry Stark. I'll have your back. Then we will come back to camp, and I'll fuck two whores one for each of us." Theon laughed. Rob just sent him a strained smile and continued.

The line of North men stretched further than he could see and the Lannister's looked to have equal numbers. This would be the biggest battle to date and Rob couldn't handle to suspense any longer.

"FOR THE NORTH! FOR NED STARK." He bellowed and begun his charge towards the waiting soldiers. He could hear the thousands of hooves behind and yet could still differentiate Greywind's soft paws beside him.

As he crashed into the lines of golden shield's all thought's left his head except left, right, stab, duck and once fuck as he was knocked off his horse. It was chaos and Rob lost track of everything except the burning in his arms as he swung his sword and the spray of blood hitting him with each Lannister man he cut down.

He found himself fighting with Theon and Lord Bolton against several Lannister men and then as he wiped the sweat and blood out of his eyes, he saw something that filled him with dread and might also be the biggest opportunity of this war. Jamie Lannister had joined the fray against him. With renewed vigour Rob took down two men and stepped forward Greywind beside him, his muzzle covered in blood.

"Kingslayer." Robb called.

"Pup." Jamie smiled a smile that was so sure of himself.

Renewed Robb stalked towards the man who was covered in blood although the gold of his amour still shone through. Theon joined him as Lord Bolton was battling the two other lesser Lannister's. Rob raised his sword and Jamie lazily flicked away his attempt. Rob again raised his sword and attempted to feign left but without a flinch the kingslayer deflected the blow.

Theon joined the attack them both working together as only men trained together could but still, they were not threatening this man. It wasn't until Greywind caught Jamie's leg in between his jaws and dented the armour there that Jamie even attacked rather than defended. He swung with such speed and strength that for a second his arm appeared blurred to Rob.

Rob quickly tried to parry the blow and the resulting strike caused pain from his wrist to his shoulder. His arm almost buckled. Theon Jumped in front of Rob but as he saw the Kingslayer attempt to swing at the direwolf who was circling Rob pushed Theon aside into a blade that would have cost Rob his head.

Theon gasped his eyes wide as realisation struck. Rob however had no time to notice, and Jamie Lannister was upon him.

"How does it feel Stark? Killing. It feels good doesn't it. Gets the blood pumping through your brains as little else does. Although I can think of one thing." At this he slowed slightly as if the memory of what it was had to be so great it took over his mind completely. Rob saw this and decided to press his small advantage whilst he could.

"Slaying your king?" Rob taunted getting closer and he signalled to Greywind to take the other side. His direwolf seemed to obey the slightest of commands as if he could hear the thoughts inside Rob's own head.

Jamie Lannister laughed. "No, wolf pup. Although telling your father when I go back to King's Landing that I killed his son will be one of my highlights for sure. Why Joffrey has kept your sanctimonious father as hand I will never understand."

"Father's free?" Rob gasped.

"For now. However, you have killed many of my men so I will have to take your head back to him." Jamie smiled and then managed a blow so powerful on Rob's chest plate it took him to his knees. Jamie Lannister stood over him and smirked "My sister. Doing my sister is the greatest feeling."

Rob was astounded. He had heard of the rumours of bastardry. Everybody had. But here he was admitting to it. Not like he could tell anybody. He was sure to die now. His eye's rested on Theon's body and he felt so much regret that he had died to save him, pointless. Rob's eyes swung to Greywind stalking behind Lannister and he thought. Take him down.

Greywind leapt onto Jamie's back and his large size had Jamie fall forwards onto Rob giving him the opportunity to grab the sword out of his hands in his surprise and then flip them over the sword at Jamie's neck.

"Yield or die." Rob ground out, hearing the rushing of blood in his ears.

Jamie was silent until Greywind stood over him and bared his teeth.

"Yield."

Ned

Eddard Stark was worried. Truly worried. The seven kingdoms were at war and his son, his heir, was leading one of the largest factions against the crown. He knew why it had begun. Rob wanted his father back just as Brandon had wanted Lyanna back. But Ned knew what happened when you defied the crown, nobody won, and a lot of innocents suffered.

New reports had said that Rob had still not lain down his arms even though his imprisonment had ended. Ravens had been sent, the king had assured him, and Ned needed the Northern army mostly intact in order to fight the rest of the wars coming. Renly and Stannis were gathering armies to take a crown not owed to them. There was also the issue of Jon. Ned forced his mind away from the dark-haired boy. He needed his armies.

Ned started once he realised, he had let his mind wonder in a meeting with the King. Although Joffrey hadn't noticed as he continued telling Ned all the battles, he had read about in preparation of his uncles coming.

"Your Grace, battle is glorious but please I beg of you to be aware of the realities." Ned said quietly his mind flew back to his own first battle and the shock of it all.

"What do you mean Lord Stark?" Joffrey was truly curious.

"Men do not die quietly. They scream and they cry, and they shit themselves. The feeling of men under your boots, as you step over friends just to stay alive is something that you will relive in your nightmares. War is not noble. It is not pleasant, and it should be a last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted." Ned sat back as the words sunk into the blond boy's head.

"Father always said battles were when you felt alive. When a man would either find himself or lose his head." Joffrey finally said.

"You know I loved your father greatly, your grace. But sometimes I think it was the only time he did feel alive. For me I feel alive with my family. It is different for many men. A man does not have to be a warrior to be strong." Ned smiled gently at the boy who had come so far.

"I don't want to be like him." Joffrey said with his lip slightly pouted. "But I must confess mother says the same. She says I am weak trusting you when your armies are attacking our troops."

"The Lannister troops. You are a Baratheon king and not one soldier is wearing the stag but the lion of your mother. They attacked the riverlords but have no fear. I am the Lord of the North and I stand with you." Ned stood and bowed.

"Your mother is causing trouble at court, your grace. Causing divides and spreading dissent. I ask to have her sent temporarily to a small castle just a day's ride away so we may treat with Stannis without her interference."

"Lord Stark, she's my mother but I think you are correct. I think we should tell her it is for her safety as we are less likely to meet as much resistance." Joffrey looked far too tired than someone his age should. Ned wondered if Rob looked as bad.

"Agreed. I will inform the Queen's mother and arrange for her departure quickly and quietly. Try and get some sleep lad." Ned clapped Joffrey on the shoulder as he passed and as he looked back Joffrey's eyes were already closed his head resting on the backrest of his chair.

The following morning, he had the unfortunate job of telling Cersei she was leaving immediately. As Joffrey had said however once he mentioned it was his wish to keep her safe in case the city was besieged the screaming stopped. She left him with a haughty look and Ned breathed a sigh of relief. That woman made every woman he had ever met seem like the mother herself.

Ned was at the battlement's enjoying a moment's silence when it was interrupted with a soft "Lord stark."

"Yes." Ned acknowledged the servant who was dressed in rough spun wool and her face was plain.

"I have a message from your son." She whispered. Ned's heart skipped a beat.

"Go on." He encouraged.

"He says that he caught the oath breaker and that the rumours that surround the king are true. He says the Kingslayer admitted to laying with his sister and the king is a bastard." The woman spoke quietly her eyes darting around.

Ned immediately dismissed this woman as somebody trying to cause trouble between himself and the king. He knew Robert, he would not have gotten a child on Cersei having so many bastards showed he was virile. It was most likely somebody with grudges against house Lannister looking for war to continue. However, he didn't want whoever had sent the messenger to know they have failed so replied. "Let my son know I heard his message however the King is Robert's son no matter what the Lannister's have done."

The woman just nodded and walked away. It was as Ned turned around when Ned spotted what he had been dreading. Ships. With the banner of the burning heart.

Stannis was here.

My first battle scene. Honestly unsure on how well I did so please be honest! I can't learn without feedback. Coming next - Sansa end's up in enemy hands and King's Landing comes under attack.

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