The Winter King
Chapter 21: Battle for Winterfell
The next morning, the Stark army was position right behind the forest. The banners of their Vassals and of House Stark were flying around as the wind blew. The men knew they had the numbers. However, as Harry explains to them, they need to lure the Bolton's away from Winterfell to crush their army. It was the only way to defeat them.
Across the plains, the burning X's that signify House Bolton flaming flay burned across the land. Harry could see it was twelve thousand indeed. Harry took note Ramsay Bolton position his men on top of a hill to give his archers greater range.
Harry looks forward and could see Rickon being led by Ramsay. Harry didn't know what was going on but Rickon started running. That was until Harry saw Jon get back on his horse and take off. Rushing to his brother aid. Harry gets on his and takes off after Jon.
Several arrows missed Rickon but Harry and Jon kept riding. Desperate to get to their brother aid.
Just as Jon was about to reach Rickon, an arrow hit Rickon through the back and through his chest. Harry and Jon jump down from their horse and holds their brother head in their lap.
Rickon takes several breaths before he stops breathing and didn't move again. Harry looks up to Ramsay and draws his Valyrian steel sword. Intent on killing every last one of them.
Jon was about to charge forward when Harry suddenly grabs Jon's hand.
"Fall back. Let them charge at us. Remember we need to draw them out from Winterfell." Harry said as he eyes, Ramsay Bolton. Harry picks up his brother and gets on his horse, he turns around with Jon and runs back. They left just in the nick of time as a volley of arrows missed them. Harry looks back to see the Bolton's heavy cavalry charging in.
Harry stops and turns to them.
"What are you doing?" Jon asks as he stops.
"Take Rickon and place his body with Ser Davos. Join me here. We have to keep them occupied. Make them think we've fallen into their trap." Harry said.
"I'm staying with you," Jon argues.
Harry dismounts holding Rickon body. He slaps his horse in the rear causing it to take off towards his side. Jon dismounts as well. Jon pulls out his sword and looks out the charging men.
"I'll be back," Harry said as he Disapparates with Rickon's body. Harry reappears near the tree line and lays Rickon down, closing his eyes as he does so. Harry the disapparates again. Appearing next to Jon. Harry draws his bow and nocks his arrow.
"Let us end these bastards," Jon said.
Harry let loose an arrow before releasing another. He kept releasing arrows after arrows upon the charging Bolton Calvary. Each release was a direct hit hitting the Bolton's in the upper chest causing them to fall downwards. In some cases, with their horses as well. But they kept coming.
Jon holds his sword like it was a baseball bat and gets ready to swing. The Bolton's were coming closer.
What happened next could only be described as chaos.
Just as the Bolton's were about to hit Harry and Jon, the Stark cavalry arrived and hit the Bolton's head on. Harry and Jon look back to see the Stark army riding right behind them.
Harry and Jon move forward as the chaos began to fill the ranks. Harry was more than comfortable of releasing his arrows in the thicket of battle. He has done so many times during his time with Robb and the Stark army. Robb always told him how accurate his aim and shooting was.
Harry also knew he had to stop their cavalry.
The men started to fill up the ranks. Harry pulls back his bowstring and fires, killing a Bolton before walking through the battlefield to kill another.
At the moment, the Bolton's had the numbers on their side. However not all the Bolton's have been sent to the battlefield. Harry needed to have patience before the trap was sprung. He could already see Commander Brise in the tree lines with the urge to join the battle. She and twenty thousand men were hidden in the trees so the Bolton's could not see them. The moment they did arrive on the battlefield, Ramsay Bolton would realize his mistake too late.
Harry puts his bow on his back as a Bolton on a horse takes a swing at him with his sword but misses. Harry draws his sword and deflects a blow from a running Bolton at him before he shoves his sword deep into his chest killing him instantly. Harry drops him as he quickly walks up to two Bolton guardsmen trying to kill one of his men. Harry headbutts the first Bolton in the head with the hilt of his sword before shoving his sword into the abdomen of the second. The first Bolton recovers but his man shoves his blade into his gut.
Then the volley of arrows arrived. Harry grabs a Bolton and uses him as a shield to take the volley of arrows.
The dead were forming a small mountain in front of them as the blunt of arrows were focus on that area.
Harry found Jon and quickly went to him.
"I think it's time," Jon said to Harry.
"Not yet, we wait until they've dispatched their entire forces. Then we show them our hand. If we strike too soon, we could lose the battle." Harry said.
They look up to see several giants and the rest of the men coming in to support them. Their arrival meant the Bolton's in the area were easily routed and defeated.
Everyone killed the last of the Bolton's to hear the sound of footsteps before Bolton's with shields and spears appeared circling them.
Harry and Jon look on and Harry immediately recognizes the formation as the phalanx. An Ancient Roman tactic. Also used by the Ancient Greeks. Surrounding your enemies by three sides and cut them apart. It was a great offensive move.
It did, however, have a fatal flaw and weakness. Because of the spears and shields, their ability to turn was limited to only what was in front of them. If an enemy were to attack them from the rear, they would be fuck and couldn't counter attack.
Harry could tell this was Ramsay's Bolton's card. He played it well. Harry stabs his sword into the ground before pulling out his wand. He fires red sparks into the air knowing Brise would see it.
Harry looks past the Bolton's and sure enough, one hundred Direwolves, Ghost, and Bandit in the lead, took off charging at the Bolton's. Brise was in the lead running towards the Bolton's. Harry could only imagine the look on Ramsay's face to realize the Starks had more men.
Brise blows her war horn and gives three loud blasts.
At the same time, another war horn could be heard.
Harry turns to the source to see a white falcon flying into a crescent moon flag over the horizon.
"What are the Knights of the Vale doing here?" Harry shouted.
Harry didn't know if they were allies or enemies. He wasn't keen on finding out the hard way either.
Before Harry could decide on a fact he notices someone with the Knights of the Vale.
Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark.
Harry was going to have a long talk with Sansa about her deception. However now was not the time for it.
Commander Chrestan was coming in from the North, Commander Brise from the West and the Knights of the Vale were coming in from the South.
The Bolton's looked behind them to realize they were fucked. Many of them attempted to break and turn around but it was too late. All three forces smashed into the Bolton's with such force they were able to carve a path instantly.
Harry looks up to see Smalljon Umber attempting to attack from the east. It was so crowded and cramped he couldn't pull out his bow out to fire a shot. He did, however, have his sword.
"All men, to the East. Push to the East." Harry shouted as he charges forward.
Smalljon Umber seemed to have realized the battle was lost. The Stark army was too much to handle. He attempts to turn tail and run with his men. Only for Tormund to grab him and stab him multiple times in the neck.
Harry climbs over the hill of dead bodies with Jon and Tormund. They look up to see Ramsay was overseeing the battle and he realized he lost. Behind him, his Direwolves were tearing apart the Bolton's to pieces. As were his men. Ramsay turns his horse around and runs off to Winterfell.
Harry jumps down the bodies with Jon and Tormund behind him. He could feel his men falling behind him the last of the Bolton's were being cut down to pieces. The fresh reinforcements of forty thousand men were simply too much for them to bare.
Commander Brise had somehow managed to fight her way to Harry and was following him with her Rangers.
Harry could see Ramsay enter Winterfell and knew at once he was hoping for the Stark army to force a siege. Harald Karstark was with him.
However, he no longer had the men to repel an attack by Harry's and Jon's forces. He barely had a hundred men left.
Harry pulls out his wand and fires a blasting curse destroying the door immediately. Creating a very large hole in the door allowing his men to enter.
The Bolton's attempt to make a last stand. But they only had a hundred and thousands were pouring into Winterfell.
Many Bolton's attempted to fire their bows at the incoming Free Folk and Stark army. They, however, were using longbows. Excellent for firing arrows long distance. They no doubt had the best range out of all the bows ever made. However, due to their name, the extra drawback to releasing the arrow took about two to three seconds to release. They also had poor accuracy. They were meant to fire very long distances not for close to mid quarters combat. Harry's men used Recurve Bows, which had about a second a half release time at best. They were also far more accurate at shooting than most bows. The Free Folk used short bows. They were small bows but excellent for firing close range and also had a second and a half release time.
That is why many Bolton's went down before they could release their arrows. They took too many hits and fell to the ground.
Harry's men and the Free Folk storm the upper levels were the Bolton's knew the battle was over. They still attempted to fight, but many had simply given up.
"My Lord." Commander Chestran shouted as he jumps in front of Jon and takes an arrow in the chest.
Harry and Commander Brise quickly went to his side. His wound was fatal.
"Forgive me, Your Grace. I have failed you." He said as he coughs out blood.
"No. You fought honorably. You saved my brother when you didn't have to. You will be remembered. You served me well, Ser Chrestan Tarner." Harry said.
He smiles but soon chokes on his blood before he gives his last breath and dies. Harry closes his eyes and looks up to see Ramsay Bolton holding a longbow.
Ramsay pulls another arrow out of his quiver before nocking it in place.
"You suggested one-on-one combat, didn't you?" Ramsay said as he looks around to see both Starks and Free Folk holding their bows at him. "I've reconsidered. I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."
Jon was quick to grab a shield at his feet and pull it up as Ramsay fires his arrow. The arrow hits Jon shield as Jon quickly advances on Ramsay. Everyone held their arrows in their bows and look at Harry and Jon as if they were unsure what to do.
Ramsay releases his second arrow and Jon again uses his shield to block the incoming arrow. Ramsay seemed to have gotten hasty and quickly pulls back his third arrow only for Jon to smack his bow aside before shoving the edge of the shield into Ramsay's throat. Ramsay fall flat on his back and Jon was quick to climb on top of him and pound him with his fist. Determined to beat Ramsay to death with just his fists. For a strange reason, Ramsay still had that smile on his face.
Jon was pounding on Ramsay for a good while before he looks up to see Sansa looking at him.
"Take Ramsay to the cells. Tie him to the chair and leave him there." Harry orders. His men bow their heads and move to carry out their orders. "Split up between seeing to our wounded. Kill whatever traitors there are left. Also, remove everything that has the Bolton's sigils on them. Let the Stark Banners fly high over Winterfell once again." Harry said. His men bow their heads as they went on to carry out their orders.
"Your Grace." Several of his men said as they lead Lord Harald Karstark to him. "We found this one hiding Your Grace. He has surrendered to us."
"Lord Harald Karstark," Harry said.
"We are family. I am a Karstark and you are a Stark. We share blood between us you and I…" Harald Karstark said as Harry walks forward to him. "There is no reason why there cannot be peace between us…" he stated but he couldn't go on as Harry shoves his sword into Harald Karstarks gut.
"There is no peace with traitors," Harry said before withdraws his sword allowing Harald Karstark to fall on the ground trying to nurse his wound. He would die in a couple of minutes as the wound was both fatal, and he was losing blood fast.
Harry wipes his sword on his sleeve before sheathing it. He had some unfinished business to take care of.
Harry walks to the cells with Brise following him. She was his bodyguard in many ways. The most trusted of his commanders. Four Rangers follow.
Harry walks into Ramsay's cell and looks at him with disgust.
Ramsay looks up and smiles at him.
"Have you've come to gloat? To mock me? Or have you come to put me out of my misery?" Ramsay asked in a mocking tone of voice.
Harry raised his wand and said one word. "Crucio."
Ramsay body began to shake violently. Harry held the curse for a few seconds before removing it. Bellatrix Lestrange was right, he had to mean to cast it. Right now, he wanted to mean it more than anything. Making Ramsay suffer before he dies was all he could think about.
Ramsay took several deep breaths before Harry places him under the curse again.
Ramsay continues to shake violently. He didn't scream. For a strange reason, he didn't scream. If it had been anyone else, they would have been screaming themselves hoarse. He just sat there, taking the curse. Harry removes it Ramsay slowly looks back up to look Harry in the eye.
"So, you're an expert in torture. How long will this go on? Days? Weeks? Months?" He leans forward and says "Years?"
"You have betrayed my house. You have raped my sister. You have wage war against your King. You are the last of the Bolton's. Your men are being routed and killed as we speak. There will be no survivors. Your reign has come to an end. You, Ramsay Bolton, for the crime of treason, are hereby sentenced to die." Harry said.
Ramsay gives a short laugh as Harry turns to walk away. His guards open the door and close it. Harry looks up to see Sansa standing there.
"You should not be here," Harry said.
Sansa said nothing as she walks forward and looks at Ramsay.
"Sansa," Ramsay said as he looks to see his former wife. "Hello, Sansa. Our time together is about to come to an end. That's all right. You can't kill me. You don't have it in you. I'm part of you now."
"Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear." Sansa said.
A growl drew Ramsay to see his dogs looking at him. They were still in their cages but they eyed Ramsay greatly. They continue to growl as they were begging to be let out. Ramsay looks back at Sansa and speaks in a confident tone.
"My hounds will never harm me."
"You haven't fed them in seven days, you said it yourself," Sansa replies.
"They're loyal beast." Ramsay declared.
"They were. Now they're starving." Sansa said.
Harry waves his wand and the doors open. The dogs immediately started sniffing Ramsay as they got closer to him. Ramsay finally seemed to have understood that his dogs would not obey him any longer. He tries to regain control of them but it was clear they were too hungry to listen to him. One dog took a bite in Ramsay's throat causing him to scream as the other dogs began to bite and rip him apart.
Sansa watched for a while before she turns and walks away.
"The moment the dogs have finished Ramsay. Kill them." Harry said as he turns to walk away.
The Trap has been sprung. The North has been won. The next chapter should really start setting the story.