Chapter 5 Lions in the North

A sharp blast of trumpets roused them.

Podrick was at his feet at once scrambling for Tyrion's axe. Pod had nice instincts, thought Tyrion, with a good teacher we might make a fine knight out of him. 'Don't bother,' Tyrion called to him sleepily, 'the Northmen don't use trumpets, they use horns. That'll be my brother Jaime.'

Jaime Lannister came at the head of a column of knights, glittering gold from head to heel, though Tyrion did not fail to notice he donned his white cloak of the Kingsguard. The Lords Marbrand, Crakehall, Brax and Swyft accompanied him.

'Brother,' said Tyrion, 'it's been a long time.' Snowflakes fell all around him.

'The Lannister brothers are finally reunited,' Jaime grinned, 'handless and noseless.'

Ser Daven Lannister was with Jaime, Tyrion's favorite cousin. 'Coz!' roared Ser Daven, a big man with long golden hair and beard, 'but it is good to see that ugly face of yours again. You took so long to come we were worried a Stark army got you.'

'Did you shed bitter tears for me, coz?'

'Well, the whores in camp were. You're famously lavish to them, you know.'

Tyrion grinned. Ser Daven reminded him of Bronn, though Daven was much better-mannered. 'May I introduce some of my fine companions,' Tyrion pointed at a few of his men freshly risen, 'Here is Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, and here is Shagga, son of Dolf, and I believe you both know Ser Addam Marbrand and Ser Flement Brax.'

Many greetings were made. Shagga seemed asleep on his feet half the time. 'Come into my pavilion, Jaime, coz, we have matters of war to discuss.'

When they entered the Tyrion's pavilion he was pleased to find Pod had left a merry fire crackling in the brazier. Ser Daven pulled off his gloves with his teeth and warmed his hands over it. 'So, then, our father is hoping for us and the Tyrells to race against each other. Is that true?'

'I fear it is. And the prize is the North.' Tyrion told them the detailed plan.

Daven laughed. 'That is just like your father. Ensuring maximum efficiency through competition.'

'So how is the Tyrell army faring?' Tyrion asked out of curiosity.

'Better than we are, for sure,' Jaime said. 'Randyll Tarly just won an excellent victory somewhere west around Castle Cerwyn, and is driving directly for Winterfell. He's got the Tully soldiers all pinned down. The Starks are setting up lines of defenses. Garlan Flowers has proved to be a fine commander and soldier.'

'You are finer, brother, and I am finer still,' jested Tyrion. 'I am confident we can win this race with the Tyrells. Together we field nearly ten thousand chivalry, enough to drive for Winterfell and reach it before Flowers.'

'I don't think so,' said Daven. He drew out a parchment map from his belt. 'You there!' His cousin shouted to poor Podrick, 'bring me quill and ink, NOW!'

Podrick managed to stammer a yes, and dashed off, returning later with a pot of ink and a quill. 'Are you a Payne, boy?' Asked Ser Daven as he dipped the quill, 'you have that pimply look.'

'Ye…y… yes, My Lord,' Pod stammered.

'You're every bit as talkative as your cousin Ilyn,' Daven remarked. He spread out the map and drew a long, crude line west of White Harbour. 'From here, to here,' Daven pointed, 'House Manderly has built a formidable defense line. They were one of the first houses to retreat from the Trident so they had sufficient time to build up this line. It's an earth wall topped with stakes, followed by a deep trench guarded by White Harbour soldiers. Specifically designed to withstand a cavalry charge. To storm it would consuming both in time and men.'

'The Tyrells did not encounter a similar problem?'

'The Starks did not have enough time to build up a line of defense in the west. Flowers simply found a gap and charged right through.' Jaime said.

Tyrion studied the map closely. It was a long defense line, right along the path their army would go. He noticed a small gap where a mountain was. 'What about here, coz?' Tyrion pointed at the gap, 'is this a gap?'

'No,' said Daven after some squinting, 'the Manderlys didn't build defenses there because that damn mountain is more formidable than any defense. It's steep and covered with woods.'

'Is there no way we could sneak through this place and bypass the Manderly defenses?' Tyrion studied the map closely. If they could get through the mountains it would be a swift ride to Winterfell. 'A small road off the maps, a vale in the mountains, a goat track?'

'There is a goat track there,' Jaime pointed. But it's too narrow, it can only let past a single man on a horse…' Jaime stopped abruptly as if he realized something.

'Precisely.' Tyrion said. The strategy formed in his mind. 'If we abandon our heavy equipment, such as wagons and siege equipment, we could pass through the goat track.'

'…and the Starks would never expect our attack there.' Jaime laughed. 'I've been training for war since I was five, I've been taught Warcraft by the Archmasters of the Citadel yet I am outsmarted in matters of war by my brother.' Tyrion grinned.

'But what about my siege machines,' said Daven in a mourning tone, 'I had them shipped all the war here from Riverrun.'

'Well… if you are loathe to depart with them we could always use some more firewood,' Jaime suggested, 'its getting cold.' Daven laughed. Tyrion called for a cup of wine.

It was well over an hour before they reached an agreement on the tactics. Daven would launch a fierce attack on the eastern defenses with his heavy war equipment, whilst Tyrion and Jaime led the lighter cavalry through the goat track. After that they would split into two armies again. Tyrion's fresh divisions would launch an attack on the northern side of the lines, catching the defenders from both sides and make a breach, allowing Ser Daven to pass with the heavier cavalry. Jaime would be driving for White Harbour and the main Manderly host, pinning down their forces, catching them by unawares and cutting their supply lines. Once the Manderly threat was eliminated Jaime's army would make a full speed gallop to join with Tyrion, and push towards Winterfell.

Jaime proposed a toast, Tyrion gladly agreed. His mouth was dry from all that talking. Pod poured three cups of mulled wine and they toasted, Jaime still slightly clumsy with his left hand.

Tyrion admitted parts of the plan had come from Oberyn Martell. 'Blitzkrieg, he called it,' said Tyrion, ''Form a heavy hammer and do not disperse,' he advised me. Some Rhoynar war tactic.' Their next toast was to the Red Viper.

'With this mighty plan we will triumph over both the Starks and the Tyrells,' declared Daven after a few cups of wine. 'We will capture Winterfell first, deliver it to Casterly Rock and take Sansa Stark to be the bride of my dear coz.'

Yes, thought Tyrion. But then what?