It was a cloudless night.

The moon was full and shone in the night sky like a beacon.

Next to it, the small hints of the red comet could be seen as well, but they were nothing compared to the moon's light.

Leo Lannister wondered what his siblings were doing at this moment, this late into the night.

Gerold was probably asleep, as dealing with the situation in King's Landing as well as the court and apparently being Lord Regent if the reports were true, had to be tiring work. His older brother was always a man who did worked hard and left little time for himself. All those lessons that Grandfather Tywin had given them about legacy had taken a slightly deeper hold in Gerold than the rest of them.

Isabella was probably gazing at the stars with her Myrish lens. The far eye had been imported from Myr at their father's request and ever since Isabella had been fascinated by the night sky. Leo had looked through it once and it was truly amazing to see how brightly all those little dots shone. Like diamonds amongst a black field.

Leo spared a glance towards the sky again and found it littered with stars, giving off just enough light for them to see.

They'd need it after all, for the attack was about to begin.

"Remain with Ser Alyn Vikary, and do not leave his side Leo. He has command of the vanguard and I'll not have you lose your life too early now." Leo's father said.

Ser Jason Lannister sat atop his horse in full Lannister armor. The red and gold plate shined to a mirror finish and his lion helm made it so that he looked like the roaring beast on their banners come to life. He was tall and strong, his sword at his side having seen more battles than Leo knew years of life. When his father turned to look at him, he was met with green eyes of the Lannisters.

Granduncle Kevan said that Jason Lannister had Grandmother Joanna's eyes.

Those eyes were hardened and betrayed nothing, only focus and determination.

They had a war to fight and a currently a trap to spring.

"Aye father, I'll make sure to keep my head attached to my shoulders." Leo said.

His father gave a small huff of laughter a small nod before turning back to the field of battle in front of them. In the distance they could see the torch lights of a host, but they were not Westermen, but Northmen. Traitors all and would be invaders.

The Young Wolf had thought to outflank the Golden Tooth by taking a goat track. It would have worked as well, if Leo's father hadn't been meticulous in mapping out the Westerlands. Part of that mapping occurred around the Golden Tooth, and Leo had been part of some of those expeditions, for he would one day rule the Golden Tooth as its lord.

They had come across the tracks and while they were small and unknown, they were large enough for men and horse to travel through. That meant they were a vulnerability, and thus they were accounted for and marked down in their maps. Discreet lookouts were placed along the paths, and they were given orders to do nothing but watch and report back.

When the lookouts had reported Robb Stark's host moving through it meant that the plan was to be put into motion.

Granduncle Stafford's host was to be the bait. They were hoping that the Young Wolf would overstep and become overconfident, that he would attack it in the hopes of gaining another easy victory. Ser Jason Lannister had explained that Robb Stark would attack it as his bannermen would demand blood, and Stafford's host would be easy pickings.

That was what they wanted them to think after all.

The host was placed just outside of Oxcross, in a way that left little question as to where it was. If any of the Stark's scouts came forth, they would see a host that was green and not at all ready for war. They'd see an easy target to take out, and when they came in for the attack, that was when the hammer would fall.

Their anvil was so enticing that no man could resist, and certainly not a young wolf.

"My Lord, the scouts have returns. Robb Stark is on the move, and they think that he means to attack Ser Stafford's host." A knight in House Lefford colors said as he stopped his horse in front of them.

"Very good, head back to the Lefford host, I want them to be ready for the signal." Ser Jason said. When the horns sounded, the attack would begin, and the hammer would fall.

The knight nodded and in moments he was riding off into the night. Leo clenched the reins of his horse a little tighter in his hands and took a breath. The battle was coming, and he could feel his blood thundering through his veins. His sword hand itched towards his blade.

His father gave the order, and their host was off, keeping distance from the Stark host, but remaining close enough for their plan to work. Lannister Hammer on a Lefford Anvil. The Lefford host had nearly all heavy infantry, knights armored and armed with the finest plate and steel that the Westerlands could offer. Their own host had all the cavalry with them and the noise that the horses made was rather loud, but these were Lion Guard men, and all that training was paying off as the noise level wasn't so loud that they'd be spotted.

The Northmen were marching as well, and the noise the savages made would cover up any noise their own host produced.

Leo's father had warned him that it would be a bloody affair, this upcoming battle. That while the Stark's had fewer men and horse, they made up for it in ferociousness in battle. That Robb Stark had a direwolf with him, and that such a beast was ruthless and deadly. It was not going to be an easy victory, but hopefully it would be one that was quick.

Ser Clarent Crakehall rode with Leo as they made their way towards the vanguard. Leo's father giving him a final look over before wishing him strength in battle and wisdom in the fight. He took the words of advice that his father gave him to heart.

"Never hesitate Leo. Always go for the kill, no matter how dishonorable it may seem, for in war, there are only dishonorable men and there are dead men."

He had eyes on the camp.

The torches that illuminated the camp stood out against the near total darkness of the night, as the moon's rays were barely able to light the way. From the distance he could see that there were very few fortifications and no sentries to be seen. The Lannisters wouldn't see them coming until it was too late.

"Poorly done, Your Grace. Posting no sentries is just asking to be attacked." Ser Brynden said.

"Aye, they're exposed, and won't be ready for when we attack." Lord Rickard Karstark said.

Robb Stark listened to his lords and knights as they appraised the camp. He could see that there was nothing stopping them from going on in and taking it. There really were no sentries watching the camp and the fortifications did look weak from where they were.

The men were ready for a battle while the Lannister were sleeping in their beds.

It would be an easy victory.

"Send the men down to cut the lines of the horses. Once they're cut, I'll loose Grey Wind and startle them into a mad panic, and that will be the signal to begin the attack." Robb said, and everyone voiced their agreements.

The men were sent off, and Robb could do nothing but wait until the horse lines were cut. His mind drifted towards everything else that had happened in such a short amount of time. His lord father was dead at the hands of a boy king and now the Seven Kingdoms were at war. Sansa and Arya were prisoners in King's Landing, in the hands of Cersei Lannister.

He had called the banners and marched south with the intention of freeing his father. But now? He had led his host past the Golden Tooth and deep into the Westerlands. He had a crown placed on his head and hailed as a king by his bannermen. He was fighting a war against the Lannisters, and at times he didn't understand why they were even fighting.

Justice and revenge for his father was the answer.

He had to remind himself that he was doing this for his father. But another part of him wondered if his father would have done this, if he had still lived. Would he be sitting here, waiting to attack a Lannister host filled with green boys?

Robb didn't know the answer, and he wouldn't have anymore time to think on it as soon enough the men that were sent had come back, the horse lines cut. His battle guard sat on their horses around him and were all ready for the fight to come. Smalljon Umber with his greatsword, Dacey Mormont with her mace, Patrek Mallister with his sword, and Owen Norrey with his axe were closest to him. They would be with him when he entered the thick of the fighting.

He looked down at Grey Wind by his side. The direwolf was nearly as big as a pony at this point and it wouldn't be long before he matched the size of a horse. Those yellow eyes looked back up at him and there was a slight tingling at the bad of his mind. He didn't know what it was, but it felt familiar.

Without needing to say a word, Grey Wind was off. The direwolf knew what he had to do, and Robb watched as he bounded down towards the Lannister horses. There would be chaos soon to be had and he readied his horse and-

"Aaagh!"

-felt a sharp pain slam into his head. It was searing hot and right at the back of his eyes that he didn't know if he'd been hit with something, or a sudden sickness came over him. He was vaguely aware of his battle guard asking what the matter was, what caused his pain, yet Robb couldn't answer. It was like his mouth didn't work anymore; it was held shut by muscles that refused to work.

He looked out towards the Lannister camp and saw something that made his blood run cold.

He saw Grey Wind, but he wasn't making the horses go wild. No, he was being surrounded by Lannister men! Even from the distance Robb could see the blood that was coming from his direwolf, and he watched as a Lannister man-at-arms threw a spear that landed true. A flash of pain came upon Robb's right side, and he grit his teeth to keep from screaming in pain.

The damn Westermen were more prepared than they thought.

He needed to get to Grey Wind.

"NOW! CHARGE!"

He kicked his horse into motion as the words left his mouth and he was off. His battle guard were right after him and from the corner of his eye he saw the thousands of Northmen and Riverlanders coming from the trees as well, their horses pounding on the ground, the war cries coming from the lips of them all.

There were Karstark men on the left riding along side Tully men. Umber men on the right with Blackwood men. The Manderly knights were roaring a mighty war cry as they charged ahead, the Merman banner flying. The Mormont bear was flying his as well and the men of Bear Island were screaming their heads off.

Grey Wind took another hit but not before he bit a man's arm off and Robb was sure that he felt blood in his mouth, but he couldn't be sure where it had come from. Mayhaps he'd bitten his tongue. His muscles were screaming at him, and his blood was thundering through him. He could only see what was in front of him and that was his direwolf being sliced and stabbed at the hands of Lannisters.

The blaring of horns sounded in the distance and Robb barely heard it and the thundering of hooves. He needed to get to Grey Wind. The direwolf was in need of help and he was only a couple paces away! Robb swung his arm and the blade sliced through steel and flesh, spraying red into the air. The man went down with a garbled scream and blood gushing from his neck.

Robb didn't spare him a second glance as he was already riding down the next man in his sights. It was a knight in Lannister colors with a sword and shield in hand. He was fully armored, and Robb urged his horse on. The man barely got out of the way but not before landing a hit on Robb's horse. The animal let out a cry of pain and Robb glanced down to see that the knight's blade had come dangerously close to his leg, but it had cut through the horse's flesh.

The beast wouldn't last much longer, and Robb threw himself from the saddle. He landed on his feet and yelled for his guard to rally to him. The sounds of the horse dying in the background were barely acknowledged as Robb cut through a waiting knight. He wasn't particularly skilled and went down in only three moves. Beside him Robb heard the crunch of plate as Dacey's mace landed with deadly precision, caving in a man's head.

Smalljon Umber was yelling a war cry and swinging his greatsword around, cleaving limbs from bodies and taking heads. It was as if the very ground was shaking, and Robb turned to look for his direwolf. He spotted him in the distance, still surrounded by Lannister men and still putting up a vicious defense.

All the Lannister men that Robb could see were armed and armored and a part of him wondered how they had gotten ready so quickly. But the cry of pain from his direwolf stole those thoughts away and pulled him back to the moment. Robb moved with a sure gait towards Grey Wind, making sure to fend off any who came in his path. Dacey and Smalljon took his flanks while Patrek and Lucas Blackwood were at his back.

He vaguely saw the Blackfish in the distance in a duel with a knight wearing Lefford colors, both men still somehow on their horses. Robb couldn't spare his granduncle another glance however as a knight who was also wearing Lefford colors came up to him and nearly took his head off. Robb moved out of the way at the last moment and brought his sword up to block the next blow that he knew was coming, yet it never did.

Dacey Mormont caved the man's head in with a single blow, the blaring of horns in the distance accompanied the crunch of metal. The ground was positively shaking, and the screams of men and horses filled the air. But all of that didn't matter for Grey Wind was right in front of him.

"Come on!" He shouted as he made the final push towards the direwolf. His body was aching, and his bones felt as if they might give at any moment. His still felt blood in his mouth and he spat it out, yet nothing but spittle had come out.

"Robb! We need to regroup!" Lucas Blackwood shouted as he swung his sword. He had abandoned his bow a ways back as they had entered the thick of the fighting. The many tents of the camp forming a veritable maze around them.

The sounds of screaming filled the air, and the thundering of hooves shook the very earth under them. Robb dispatched the final man attacking his direwolf and looked over the injured beast. He had cuts and stabs and slashes all over his body. His fur was coated in his own blood and the blood of his attackers. It was a gruesome sight, and in the back of his mind Robb could feel the pain, in some backwards way he did.

"In coming cavalry!"

Whoever shouted it out soon found himself with a spear in the throat. Robb turned to look around and found hundreds of men-at-arms and knights fighting, the colors they wore almost impossible to see in the darkness of night. The cook fires that the Lannister men had set up were not enough and Robb couldn't see past the red colored tents to see what was causing all the shaking.

Another horn blast sounded through the air and Robb looked for the source. He couldn't see it however and as he cut through another Lefford knight he only then realized that nearly all the men he'd encountered were Lefford men. There were definitely Lannister men around, but all the Lefford men had been knights, fully armored in plate and baring castle forged steel.

Where had they all come from?

Where were all these men and horses coming from?!

A scream of pain came from his side, and he turned to find Dacey Mormont fall to the ground with a spear lodged in her leg, the steel tip coming a full foot from her thigh. The man who had landed the hit didn't even try to withdraw the weapon as he reached for the blade at his hip and drew it.

This man was also a Lefford knight, for he had the inverted pile on a blue field on his surcoat. Robb came at the man with all he could and swung his blade to kill. He let out cries as he swung, and the knight met each of his swings with his sword. The man grunted each time their blades met and through the slit of his helmet Robb saw blue eyes looking back at him.

Robb raised his blade to swing again when pain ripped through his side. He screamed as he barely managed to block the Lefford knights attack and get away from both him and the unknown threat to his rear. He turned to face them and saw a knight in Lannister colors, with Patrek Mallister at the man's feet, his body unmoving. Smalljon was occupied with two men-at-arms on one side and Lucas Blackwood was off on another side dealing with a knight wearing colors that Robb couldn't make out.

Dacey was down, mayhaps dead. Patrek was definitely dead, and he didn't even know where Owen Norrey had gone off to. Hopefully the man wasn't dead.

"Stark!"

Robb turned towards the shout of his name and came upon a knight wearing a lion helm. He knew that the only people who wore lion helms were the actual Lannisters. Jaime Lannister had worn a lion helm, and it was said that his kingslaying brother also wore one as well. But this knight in front of him wasn't the Kingslayer.

No, they said that the Kingslayer was at Casterly Rock, so this had to be someone else.

"Let's end the war right here and right now!" The knight yelled.

Grey Wind, who had kept by Robb's side even in his injured state, bared his teeth and let out a fierce growl at the knight with the lion helm.

Robb readied his blade and steadied himself as prepared for the attack to come. His muscles were on fire and his body ached. He was fairly sure he was bleeding from his side and the earth was shaking from underneath his feet. What in the name of the gods was doing all that shaking, and how were the Lannister so ready for them?

The scouts said that this camp was an easy target.

"We need him alive Leo!" Another knight shouted over the sounds of battle going on around them.

"Ser Jason's orders!" A knight wearing the brindled boar of Crkaehall on his surcoat said.

Robb looked around and found himself being surrounded by Lannister men. His battle guard were nowhere to be seen, and each way he looked, he found nothing but red and gold.

"Take the beast down!" A Lefford knight shouted and before Robb could even turn to face the man who had shouted the order, his side exploded with pain. He turned to wing at the attacker but found none.

No, they had attacked Grey Wind.

The direwolf at a spear sticking out from his side and he struggled to remain on his legs. The wound was bleeding profusely, and the heaving of his ribcage was apparent for all to see. Each breath was a struggle and Robb could only watch in horror as his direwolf fell to his side.

He swung to face the knight with the lion helm and let out a roar of rage and pain. It was clear this man was the leader and Robb swung at him with all the fury he could muster. He was screaming as he swung left and right, pressing his attack even as his body screamed at him to stop, as the blood from his wounds ran down his body underneath all his clothes and armor.

The knight with the lion helm met him blow for blow, his gods damned golden sword ringing out as their blades clashed. None of the other men around them moved to intervene. They had in fact closed the circle around them, cutting off the outside world.

Robb could hear the sounds of men dying in the air as well as horses pounding the earth. Banners were flying in the distance, and they weren't the Stark Direwolf, but the Lion of Lannister.

"Yield Stark, and you may yet live!" The knight of Lannister yelled.

Robb answered with a primal growl and swung his blade again. The knight answered with his own swing and their blades met, the cross guards knocking together, lion heads and direwolf heads nearly kissing.

The sounds of horns blaring in the distance filled his ears again and the knight of Lannister pushed him away. Robb stumbled back and raised his blade to block the incoming attack, but none came. The knight simply held his ground and looked at him.

"Kill the beast." Was all he said.

The squelch of blade meeting flesh sounded from behind him, and Robb turned to find Grey Wind with a sword running through his skull, the bone breaking under the man's thrust. Robb's head exploded with pain, and he struggle to remain standing. His world was whirling around him, his eyes losing focus on the very man in front of him.

"No." Robb muttered as the blade in his hand fell from his grip. It clattered down on the grassy earth and was soon followed as Robb fell to his knees beside Grey Wind's corpse.

"No."

"NO!"

Robb felt a hand come down on his shoulder and he swung at whoever had touched him. His punch landed on red and gold plate and a lion helm looked down at him.

"I am sorry, but needs must be."

The Lion of Lannister swung his gauntleted fist at Robb's face and the last thing he saw was the roaring lion before his world went black.