Chapter 12. RESCUE MISSION

Robb had decided to use Tara'a idea and surround Moat Cailin just out of arrow range. When Lannister scouts spotted the besieged castle they quickly returned to the main force to report. Meanwhile Tyrion Lannister stood on a hill watching the Lannister camp. He had just escaped the custody of Catelyn Stark and Lysa Arryn with help from a sell sword named Bronn. Later Tyrion convinces the hill tribes to fight for him.

When Tyrion enters his father's tent Bronn, Shagga, and several of the hill tribe leaders are with him. "I see that the rumors of your demise are overstated…"

"Don't be so sad father…The day isn't over yet…"

"Who are they supposed to be…" Tyrion introduces Bronn and the hills tribe lords to Tywin Lannister.

"Where is Jaime?"

"Your brother has already defeated the River Lords in two battles and is marching on Riverrun…" Kevin Lannister says with a sense of pride.

"And Gregor Clegane has taken Stone Hedge!"

"What of Robb Stark?"

"I sent scouts towards Moat Cailin…and throughout all the North…"

Just then Tywin's squire enters, "My Lord several scouts have returned…"

They enter and bow, "The Stark forces lay siege to Moat Cailin my lord…Apparently Tara Clegane attacked Barrowtown."

They all exchange glances, "How many?" Kevin Lannister asks.

"Twenty thousand strong…"

"If we attack Lady Clegane's forces can join us…We can crush Robb Stark in one swoop!" Kevin says.

Tywin looks at the man, "What of the towers?"

"Boarded up my lord!"

"Catapults?" Kevin asks.

"No catapults from what we can tell…The Starks are building some…"

"It could be a trick!" Tyrion says.

Tywin walks up to the scout, "Was Barrowtown truly on fire…"

"I saw the smoke and refugees fleeing the town…"

"If we attack and this is a trick!" Tyrion says.

Tywin decides to wait, but when a messenger arrives from Moat Cailin asking for help and swearing fealty in exchange for Harrenhal, he decides to march on Moat Cailin and trap Robb Stark.

Moat Cailin

A man rides at full speed toward Moat Cailin, "He comes my lord…" The man says to Robb.

"How many?" Jon Umber asks.

"Forty thousand strong!"

"Get ready!"

To make the siege look real holes had been dug in Barrowtown and filled with straw and wood. A fire started and the flamess fanned to billow the smoke. The people would leave and circle around to evacuate and Tara's sigil flew over Barrowtown. At Moat Cailin blunted arrows were fired back and forth. The towers were boarded up but in them men manned javelins and catapults.

A thunderous roar splits the air and is accompanied by the sound of horses. Tywin's forces attack and when spotted Robb's men try to hold them off. Then the retreat is sounded as the gates open. When Tywin's army is in place the boards on the tower windows are removed. Thousands of archers made up of Tara and the other northern forces rain arrows on Lannister forces. Then catapults are revealed from behind and on the wall. Thousands of men die with each hit.

Then Robb and Eagen lead the Calvary charge flanking Tywin's forces who have fallen in disarray. "Retreat! Sound the retreat!" Tywin yells.

Bronn decapitates a man and leans to the side on his horse scooping up Tyrion who had fallen from his horse. Robb's men cheer as the Lannister forces retreat. "My lord do we pursue?"

Robb reigns in his horse, "No! Count the dead and tend the wounded…"

After two days a soldier reports to Robb and his banners in the main hold of Moat Cailin, "Final tally my lord…The Lannisters lost 18,742 not including wounded or prisoners we took in battle…We lost 720 men not including wounded…"

"Dismissed!" Robb says, "Lady Tara's plan worked. I sent a Raven to Lord Walder Frey, when we arrived at Moat Cailin…If we can make for the Twins we can cross into the Riverlands and trap Jaime Lannister…"

"What of Tywin Lannister he still has a sizable force with him…"

"I am sending 2,000 men to slow Tywin Lannister down…"

Eagen shakes his head, "2,000 men will not defeat Tywin Lannister…"

Robb sighs, "I know! But they will keep him busy…"

By sunset a Raven returned to Moat Cailin with Walder Frey's answer. In return for passage through the twins Robb had to agree to marry one of his daughters. Also Arya was to marry his son Waldren when they are of age. Robb sends a rider with his response while the army marches from Moat Cailin. When Robb makes camp his mother returns and tells him that his aunt will not help them in their war. He tells Catelyn of his victory against Tywin because of Tara's plan and that he intends to marry one of Walder Frey's daughters.

The Red Mermaid

Tara's ship was a warship, disguised as merchant vessel. By the time Robb had marched to Moat Cailin and defeated Tywin Lannister Tara's ship had completed three quarters of the journey. The ship made good time because Tara kept men on the oars at all times rowing in shifts. After a few days she would let them rest and allow the ship to sail by wind or the speed they had built up.

"You all know the plan?" Tara asked as they pulled into Black Water Bay.

As the ship was inspected for smuggled goods a few men dropped silently into the water and swam from royal ship to royal ship tying up the rudders of the ships. When the ship was unloaded a few men went to the whorehouses. When night came Tara and several others snuck onto the docks killing the guards by slitting their throats. A ladder was used and Tara leads several men onto the wall and they kill the men patrolling the dock walls. Then they unlock the gates after stripping the men of their armor and dumping the bodies in the water.

A few men dressed as city watch guards went to the stables with torches. When they received the signal they would set the stables and the grain bens on fire. Tara entered the Red Keep with fifty men. Twenty remained on the ship to guard it while the rest held up key escape routes. Arrows were fired at two men walking up the hallway.

Tara whistles, "Is someone there?" A guard shots and his is killed with a thrown dagger by Tara. She enters the cells while Akbar leads a few men towards Sansa's room. The jailer's throat is slit and Tara takes the keys. She opens the door and is given a torch. Eddard Stark covers his eyes. "Lord Stark its me Tara!"

He frowns, "Tara! What in the seven hells are you doing here?"

"Rescuing you! Can you stand?" When he takes too long Tara looks at her men, "Help him!"

"My daughter!"

"I have people getting her now!"

Jayne Pool gets up after hearing a noise. Ever since Eddard Stark was arrested for treason Jayne insists on being in Sansa's room not trusting the Lannister men or the Gold Cloaks. "Did you hear that?" Jayne asks getting up from the cot she was given to sleep on. When Jayne opens the door she gasps as her mouth is covered by a city watch guard. Then a Dothraki enters the room. "Do not scream! This one's name is Akbar…I am sworn to Lady Clegane of the North and she fights for House Stark…Come we take you to safety…"

The signal is sent and the fire is set in the stables, "There is a fire in the stables!" The man screams and runs off. The alarm bell is sounded.

"There is a fire in the granary!" Another man screams.

Cersei jumps up in bed when she opens the door Lancel Lannister is there, "What is going on?"

"A fire your grace in the granary and another in the stables…"

Cersei frowns, "Sansa! Sansa go see that Sansa Stark is in her room!"

By now Tara has gotten Eddard Stark back to the Red Mermaid. "Father!" Sansa screams running into his arms.

"I will be right back!" Tara says.

When she gets on deck Hiram joins her, "We need to leave now!"

"We will wait for a few more seconds…" A few men run to the docks with men chasing them Tara runs down the plank with thirty men and kill the pursuers. "Now we leave!" As the oars sprout flaming arrows are fired at the mainmast of the royal warships docked nearby. Tara fires an arrow at a barrel on the docks and it explodes. "Well done gentlemen!" Tara says as the Red Mermaid pulls out to sea.

The next morning most of the fires had been put out as smoke arises from the Red Keep. "Both Lady Sansa and Eddard Stark have escaped the Red Keep…Probably by ship…" Lord Varys says to the small council. Joffrey is there as well.

"Traitors all of them! I should have had that bitch and her father beheaded."

"It was a well organized attack…While our men scrambled to put out the fire, someone freed Eddard and Sansa Stark.

"I want to know who is responsible for this?" Cersei asked in aggravation.

"One of the men who survived say it was Tara Clegane." Maester Pycel says speaking up.

"What! What!"

Red Mermaid

Tara enters as Eddard, Sansa, and Jayne are eating, she takes a chair and sits facing the back of the chair like a man would. Both Sansa and Jayne look at each other in disbelief. "That is not very lady like."

Tara smiles, "I am not at a banquet am I? Tell me why did they accuse you of treason?"

Eddard looks at Sansa, "Because I learned the Queen's secret…All her children were fathered by Jaime Lannister her own brother…" He looks at Sansa, "That is why I was going to send you home." Eddard sighs shaking his head, "The King asked me to rule until Joffrey was old enough…I sent a letter to Stannis telling him the truth…I trusted Petyr Baelish, but he betrayed me…The Lannisters had all my men killed and me arrested."

Eddard looks at Sansa, "Is it true Robb summoned all the banners?"

"Yes…"

"Did my brother send you?" Sansa asked.

"No I came of my own accord…"

Lannister Camp

Moral was low as Tywin's forces had suffered their first lost in battle. Then a messenger arrives with news that Jaime Lannister had been captured by the Northern forces and his army defeated. "We should sue for peace." Kevin Lannister says. "Or fall back to Casterly Rock and gather more troops…"

"We should fall back…Robb Stark's victory has inspired the Riverlords…They are rallying around the Blackfish and his nephew Edmure Tully…"

"They have my son!" Tywin screams, "Leave me all of you…" As they disburse Tywin looks at Tyrion, "You stay!" Tyrion rolls his eyes. "I am sending you to King's Landing…"

"Why?"

Tywin pours Tyrion a cup of wine, "I didn't say anything to the others, but your sister and the idiot son of hers allowed Tara Clegane to enter the Red Keep and take both Sansa and Eddard Stark…You will be acting Hand of the King in my stead…"

Tyrion almost gags, "Well we have lost our advantage in this war…We have nothing to bargain with…"

"Leave today and if I catch any whores in your bedroom you will answer to me…"