Chapter 15. THE AMAZON AND THE MOUNTAIN

The Twins

Walder Frey did not take the news of Robb Stark's new wife too kindly. "He did what?" He asked screaming. Lothar hands Walder the letter from Olyvar.

"Send a Raven to Stevron he and all my men are to return to the Twins immediately!" Walder turns away throwing the letter into the fire, "They still have Jaime Lannister don't they?" He asks with his back to Lothar.

"Yes father!"

"Bring me quill and ink…"

Robb's Camp

Robb's banner lords are gathered in his command tent. "The Freys are leaving my lord." Jon Umber says.

"How many men do we have left?"

"Without Walder Frey's men. 32,000 including the men from Raventree Hall."

Robb looks at the map, "Tywin Lannister has fallen back to Harrenhall…" He says placing a lion marker over the ancient castle. "My uncle Lord Edmure Tully has rallied a force against the Mountain that Rides…If he attacks Gregor Clegane can escape and rejoin his master." Robb looks at Tara. "How do you feel about riding against your own brother?"

"Its long overdue I say!"

"You really going to kill your own brother?" Jon Umber asks looking at Tara.

Tara looks at Robb, "He is more valuable alive!"

"Why?" Roose Bolton asks.

"On Tywin Lannister's orders he killed Elia Targaryen nee' Martell and her children…When I was a girl of eight I heard my father and brother talking about it…That monster raped Elia and killed her along with her children. He also insulted my mother and me. As much as I want to kill the oaf he is more valuable alive. Give him to the Martells and gain their favor…I am sure you all know that Tyrion Lannister gave Mrycella Baratheon to the Martells…"

Roose Bolton looks at Robb, "Give me the job! My men and I will kill the Mountain."

Robb looks at Tara, "And if you cannot bring him back alive?"

"I will remove his head!" She coldly replies.

"Alright! Tara will take her army and hunt down the mountain…"

"While we ride to Harrenhall…" Ned says finishing the statement.

"Dismissed!" Everyone but Tara and Talisa leave. "Is there something else Tara?"

Tara looks at Talisa, "May I speak with you? Privately!" Talisa kisses Robb on the cheek and leaves. "What is it?"

"As your friend! I am happy you found love. As your sworn banner I am disappointed in you. You gave your word!"

"I know!"

"There will be hell to pay. I am saying this because there is dissension in the ranks especially from the Karstarks…"

"I know! I will make it right. Is there anything else?"

"No!" When Tara gets outside Brienne of Tarth is waiting, "Lady Brienne."

"Lady Clegane…You are a legend all over Westeros and I was wondering if I could ride with you into battle…"

Tara smiles, "Of course…The world needs more ladies in arms…"

"I have to take my leave of Lady Catelyn…"

Tara's forces leave at sundown. Jaime Lannister is in his cell still feeling pain from his lashing. As the guards pace back and forth in front of his pin an arrow strikes him in the head. Several guards are shot down by arrows and men dressed in black free Jaime and a few prisoners. "Whoever you are my father will!" Jaime is bashed over the head and a sack is placed.

"Sound the alarm prisoners are escaping!" A man shouts.

"Jaime Lannister escaped my lord it was a well planned attack…"

"They released other prisoners to cover their escape…" Roose Bolton says. "Perhaps now you will listen to me and execute the rest of these prisoners…"

Robb looks at Roose Bolton, "Suggest it again Lord Bolton and I will strip you of your title and lands, send you to the wall and name your bastard Lord of the Dread Fort…"

"Forgive my impertinence your grace…"

Jon Umber drags a man to Robb and throws him at his feet, "This was done by Walder Frey's men!"

Meanwhile Tara leads her forces south and then turn west to trap Gregor Clegane's forces. As they travel Tara and Brienne become good friends. Sharing childhood stories, fights, and other things of common interest. "I wish I would have done what you did! Leave and travel abroad…"

"It wasn't easy!" Tara said, "Because you are a woman people underestimate even if you have a sword, especially men all they see is a pair of tits and a good ass to feel up…" Tara looks at Brienne. "Did you cut your hair or was it always that short…"

Brienne shakes her head, "You don't like it?"

"No I love it I just wish I had the courage to cut mine…"

"My hair was long as yours. When I was fifteen I got into a fight with this boy…He pulled my hair…I kicked his ass, but later that day alone in my room I cut it…My mother exploded, my father just hunched his shoulders…And said she still looks beautiful."

"My mother caught me in the act…Then my father sat me on his lap and said a woman should not cut her hair. He made me promise to never cut it. So that is why…" She grabs her long braid and shows it to Brienne. "…I haven't chopped it off."

Brienne sighs remembering the ball her father threw and all the noble boys who pretended to like her. "Well your life has been more fulfilling and adventurous than mine…"

A scout rides up to Tara, "Lady Clegane! I spotted the Mountain and his army…They are engaged in battle with men from Riverrun…"

Tara turns in her saddle, "Eagen!" He rides up to her.

"Set the men up the woods…I will lead my brother here and then we annihilate his men…"

Gregor Clegane beheads a man and grabs another by the throat breaking his neck. "My Lord look!" His Squire says.

Across the field four thousand men on horseback gallop towards Gregor's army as it burns a small village near Acorn Hall. Gregor smiles recognizing his sister's sigil. "Tara! Come to me you little bitch!"

"My lord!" Another man says riding up, "Tully forces! Lead by the Blackfish and Edmure Tully marching on us…"

"How many men they got?"

"Twelve hundred!"

"We attack the bitch! All men forward!"

Gregor's army numbers 2,000 strong, five hundred are his men and the rest placed under his command from other Houses serving House Lannister. Tara has four thousand mounted lances while Gregor has only eight hundred. His archers set up while Gregor engages his sister's army. Brother and sister lock eyes and charge each other. Tara throws her lance like a spear at the last minute. As Gregor dodges the attack she draws her sword leaning to the side and cuts off the front left leg of her brother's horse.

Gregor and the Horse go down and as they do Tara catches the lance of another rider and throws his off his horse. Then she stabs him in the chest with his own lance. Then Tara trots her horse over to Gregor and kicks him in the face. "Dirty Bitch!" He cries spitting blood. Gregor punches Tara's horse and as it falls over she rolls out of the way and onto her knees just as Gregor raises his sword.

She blocks and overhead attack while performing a split. She pushes his sword to the side and uppercuts Gregor in the balls. Tara raises her sword and rolls backwards stabbing a man in the back. Then dozens of her men fall dead from arrows. "Shit!" Tara says looking at the archers, "Retreat!" She screams running past Gregor kicking him in the face again. As Tara runs she draws a dagger and throws it into one of Gregor's men. She pulls him off the horse and rides off blowing her horn.

"My Lord we should withdraw! Tully forces are upon us!" Gregor beheads the man, "Anyone else wish to retreat?" He punches one of his men off the horse he is riding, "After them!"

Tara looks back and smiles, "That's right follow me you big stupid oaf!" Tara's forces retreat into the trees where the rest of her army is waiting. Archers are posted in the trees and on the ground while five thousand spears await Gregor's charging forces. Tara reigns in her horse and looks back waving her sword. "Now!" She shouts. It is a blood bath as hundreds of men fall to arrows from all directions. Then Tara's foot soldiers attack rushing forward with spears pointed out. Tara leads them from horseback and locks eyes on her brother Gregor. They fight with swords from the backs of their horses.

Tara receives a slash on the cheek, she cuts him on the arm. Then he slashes her on the leg. Tara leans back as the sword whistles above her and she cuts his saddle. Gregor hits the ground as Tara strikes his horse on the flank. She uncoils a whip and catches Gregor around the neck. "YAH!" Tara rides off dragging Gregor behind her, but eventually he gets to his feet and is dragged standing on his feet. As he passes a tree Gregor grabs it and pulls with all his might. Tara is taken off her horse and hits the ground but first.

"Now you die bitch!"

As the sword comes down Tara raises her legs, catches the sword with her feet and rolls backwards taking it away from him. She comes up swinging the sword from side to side. She swings, but Gregor claps his hands together and stops the sword. Tara takes two fingers and jabs Gregor in the eyes. Not so deep as to blind him permanently, but enough to slow him down with pain. He drops the sword covering his eyes and roaring.

Tara rolls forward snatching the sword off the ground and slashes Gregor across the back of his leg. Down he goes then she flips her sword and bashes him in the head with the hilt. Gregor hits the ground like a tree cut down. Soon she is joined by Eagen and Brienne. Akbar joins her as well, "Bring me chains!"

Tara returns to Robb's camp with Gregor chained to a poll. His mouth is covered by a metal muzzle. His arms are bent around a poll through another poll in a small wagon with wheels. He is standing on the flat of the wagon his feet shackled as well. The small wagon is pulled by two horses. Edmure Tully and Bryden the Blackfish Tully are with Tara.

"My lord King in the North…I bring you the Mountain that rides…"

There are standing orders that only Tara, Eagen, or Akbar is allowed to feed the Mountain Gregor Clegane. Meanwhile Robb informs Tara, Edmure, and Brynden the Blackfish what happened to Jaime Lannister.

"Command me!" Tara says. "I can go to the Twins and bring him back…"

Robb shakes his head, "No I need you here. I will deal with Walder Frey soon enough…"

The Twins

Thousands of Riders gallop towards the Twins with a valuable hostage. They bring Jaime Lannister into the main hall of the Twins and force him to his knees. "Remove his hood and stand him up! That is no way to treat the King's uncle." Jaime squints his eyes trying to adjust to the light. "Do you know who I am Kingslayer?"

"One of Hoster Tully's river-rats…"

Walder Frey smiles and starts to laugh, "Well I am thought of as a river rat and worse by the almighty Tullys…I am thee river-rat boy…Walder Frey at your service…"

"Ah! The late Walder Frey if memory serves…"

"Careful King-slayer my patience has its limits…Now tell me. Are you a prisoner or a guest…"

"I don't understand."

"Well see a prisoner resides in the dungeons…In your case a hostage for the King in the North tell he fulfills his vow…or rather gives his sister to my son Olyvar as I understand Sansa Stark is back with her family…Or will you be a guest…I have made a deal with Tywin Lannister and he will name me Warden of the Riverlands if I betray the Tullys and the King in the North…This all hinges on you marrying one of my daughters…Hence my dilemma. So I ask! Are you a prisoner or a guest…"

Jaime smiles, "If I am a guest which one of your…" He looks at the gathered girls, "Lovely daughters will I be marrying?"

Walder looks at the girls, "Um! Sylene and Rosalin step forward…"

Sylene is older than Rosalin and just as beautiful, except she has black hair. The two most beautiful daughters Walder Frey has. "Pick one! The Wedding will happen in five days…You must remain here until I can either sneak you and your new wife out of the Riverlands or Robb Stark is dead…"

"Can I think it over?"

Walder Frey shakes his head, "No! You may not. It's quite simple…Prisoner or son-in-law…"

"I suppose I will take Sylene for my wife…" Jaime replies in a reluctant manner.

"Very good Kingslayer…A word of warning though…If you betray my daughter by shooting your seed into some whore I will kill you and take Casterly Rock for my grandchild by Sylene…Take Lord Jaime Lannister to his room. Bathe him thoroughly and diner is at seven…Welcome to the Twins Lord Jaime."