A massive column of men flying the banners of House Stark marched for the castle of Deep Den that had been overcome by the force of fifty thousand men that Robb Stark had sent west a day ahead of the men he led now. That initial force was garrisoned in and around the seat of House Lydden waiting to regroup.
"Davos Seaworth wishes a word, Your Grace." Said a breathless rider who had ridden to the head of the column where Robb was riding with Ser Garlan, Lord Bryce Caron, Smalljon Umber and Dacey Mormont.
"Gods…what now?" Robb sighed, tugging at his reigns to follow the rider back to end of the massive column of men where the high-value prisoners were being held. Davos Seaworth was shackled but on top of a horse when Robb approached him.
"Your Grace." Davos greeted with a bow of his head.
"Ser Davos. I'm told you wish to speak. If so, do it quickly." Robb said, holding his horse's reigns firmly in hand as he trotted beside Ser Davos.
"Aye. I wish to beg for your pardon…I have reconsidered your offer and I wish to serve you. I know now…that my Lord Stannis, though he was a good man, was lost to his fire god. I have spent…much time amongst these men, and they all have nothing but love for you. Stannis ruled with fear. You rule with respect. I wish to serve a good King. A true King. I know that a punishment must be served…and…I have lost my left hand to Stannis' justice already. But what-…"
"Enough, Ser Davos. I am told that you served as Stannis' Hand. And that you were a pirate once."
"Smuggler." Davos corrected out of habit, only to bow his head.
"Alright. Smuggler. I'm told you're a capable man and you served Stannis loyally. I was there when he called for you to be taken to the stocks. I sent your sons home because I am keeping you hostage, ser. If you wish to join my service, how do I know I can trust you?" Robb asked, causing Davos to sigh.
"I cannot give you a reason, in truth. But what I can promise you is that so long as you are a good man and a good King, you have my loyalty." Davos said, causing Robb to sigh and rub his brow.
"Take off his shackles." Robb said as they rode into the courtyard of Deep Den, where Daryn Hornwood and Patrek Mallister were waiting to yield the castle to Robb after having seized it in his name.
"Your Grace?"
"You heard me. Take off his shackles, give him a bath, then bring him to my chambers." Robb said, pulling off his riding gloves to walk into the castle.
"Lady Lydden?" Robb asked Patrek as he walked.
"Held in her chambers, her children as well." Patrek reported as Robb sighed.
"Aye. Find their mines and safes and seize half for royal confiscation." Robb commanded to Patrek and Daryn who both bowed eagerly and walked away to complete his order.
Robb himself took a set of guest chambers for his own that night, waiting for Ser Davos and word from the Northmen as he paced before the fire after having washed his face with a bowl of fresh water. He held the mantelpiece as he stared into the flames, Grey Wind was curled on the four poster bed of the guest chambers and perked up when there was a knock on the door.
"Enter." Robb called, turning to see two Tyrell guards leading in Davos Seaworth who looked freshly cleaned and fed, behind Davos was Dacey Mormont, Garlan Tyrell and Smalljon Umber.
"Ser Davos. Feeling better?" Robb asked as Davos was placed in a seat before the King's desk while the two guards stepped back to stand by the door of the chambers. Robb's friends loitered around the back of the chambers behind Ser Davos, with Dacey leaning against a wall to fold her arms, Garlan sitting on a high-backed chair to eye Davos and Smalljon pouring himself a glass of wine.
"Much, Your Grace. Thank you." Davos said gruffly, adjusting his clothes and throwing the Tyrell guards a glare for handling him so roughly.
"Firstly, you have never wronged me, Ser Davos. You rebelled against Joffrey as I did. You spoke out against Stannis when you learned he tried to have me killed. If you say that you can be trusted, I will give you that faith. But if you betray me, then you will wish you had not. Simply look to what I will do to Petyr Baelish and Theon Greyjoy in the weeks to come." Robb said grimly, causing Davos to blink before chuckling.
"I was told that you were a fearsome warrior, a noble King. I looked at you and at first I saw a boy. I see now what they mean. You are a Stark indeed, Your Grace. My loyalty you shall have. And the first bit of advice I offer you is to rise now and march for Lannisport at once. I have heard rumors in the back of the train that Tywin Lannister has already left Harrenhal-.."
"Aye. He has. But I do not know if my Northmen and Riverlords have heeded my orders. If they have not, I could be marching my men into a slaughter." Robb said, sitting behind the desk of the guest chambers to look at Davos who leaned forward and shook his head.
"I have belief that they have. Correct me if I am wrong, Lady Mormont, Lord Umber?" Davos asked, turning in his chair to look at the young Northerners who look somewhat startled.
"He's…he's right, Robb. I know my father would have followed your orders without fail." Smalljon said, lowering his goblet of wine with heavy thought.
"As would my mother. If you asked them to draw Tywin out, they've done that. You ask them to meet you at Lannisport they will do the same. I think he's right, Robb. We should march out now. Tywin could be reaching Lannisport at any moment." Dacey advised, walking forward to place her hands on Robb's desk.
"Very well. Sound the horn. We march as soon as the armies are ready. Find Ser Davos some armor and a sword. He will ride with us." Robb declared, rising from his seat and causing his men to stand to attention and heed his word at once.
Before dawn and in the dark of the night, Robb's southern army marched from Deep Den towards Lannisport.
At the same time Lannisport fell to the Northern Army. The Greatjon commanded a silent siege of the city before the alarm could be raised to alert Casterly Rock. The few dozen Lannister men-at-arms on duty were killed around the city as the Northern Army silently filed in to hide on the beaches and in the buildings, waiting for their time to ambush the Lannister army.
Casterly Rock, held by one of Tywin Lannister's distant cousins was completely unaware of anything amiss the next day as the few remaining people of Lannisport noticed an obvious absence of the normal Lannister guards in the city. Sensing danger, the remaining citizens of the city evacuated with all haste, going down the Ocean Road where they would avoid the armies of their liege lord and the Young Wolf. The dozens of their citizen did raise some alarm in the castle, and from the manse in the city that Lord Jon Umber had seized, he could see that Casterly Rock was sealing its gates and drawing its bridges. Amazed at what he saw and that an army of near twelve thousand Northmen was able to hide unnoticed in and around the large city of lions, the Greatjon returned to the dark master chambers of the manse to thoughtfully scratch his beard. If his plan went on successfully, then Tywin would arrive in Lannisport unaware of an ambush while waiting for Casterly Rock to open its gates.
The scouts had reported that Tywin Lannister was a mere hour away, and would arrive in Lannisport before the sun had reached its midpoint. They had also received word that Edmure Tully and the Riverlords were snapping at his heels and the rumor was that Tywin hoped to raise a reserve force in Lannisport to challenge Edmure in battle.
The Greatjon laughed at that, for the Old Lion had no idea that King Robb marched from King's Landing with an overwhelming force. The Greatjon hoped that Robb was not far off…or else this plan relied on the heavily subtracted numbers of the Northerners and the skill of the Riverlords, of whom Jon's opinion was not high. Lord Umber walked down to the main hall of the manse where over two hundred men of House Umber were crammed and waiting. This was the manse of House Lannister of Lannisport, unguarded and easily taken by House Umber in the night.
"I want every man rested and ready for the moment Tywin Lannister arrives. He will be expecting us…so let us greet him with flames. Burn the Lannister manse after we have taken all the plunder we can. Leave the other houses intact." The Greatjon ordered to his assembled men, earning a roar of approval as the men began to confiscate gold and jewels in Robb Stark's name.
Ser Edmure and his army of near twelve thousand Riverlanders were on the heels of Tywin's army and had managed to avoid engaging them in true battle as of yet. Brynden Tully had been the major cause for that, ensuring that Edmure never did anything more than bleed the stragglers and slow riders of Tywin's army.
"I tell you again, boy. We cannot fight him in the open. The Northmen await us in Lannisport!" Brynden called to Edmure as they fiercely galloped in the center of the vanguard that rode with all haste after Tywin's army.
"We are too far away to be of any use if he engages them soon! The sun will reach its midpoint soon, we must reach Lannisport!" Edmure insisted, urging his horse forward ahead of his uncle Brynden who rolled his eyes and followed after his nephew.
Author's Note: The Battle of Lannisport is coming!