Chapter 18. THE HOUND

Robb's army had arrived at Harrenhall in a somber mood. Tywin Lannister had fled to King's Landing. With the support of House Tyrell Tywin could force the Stark forces into a war of attrition. Robb needed another victory. His father Eddard Stark advised marching on Casterly Rock, taking Lannisport and seizing the mines throughout the west. But a letter from Riverrun put a hold on all plans.

"Our Grandfather Hoster Tully has died…We need to go to Riverrun." Robb says to his family in private. Talisa, Eddard, Sansa, Catelyn and Theon are there.

"You abandon Harrenhall you will abandon a tactical position this close to the Capital and the West…"

"I know!" Robb replies taking Talisa's hand, "I will take only 5,000 men to Riverrun and leave the rest under the command of…" Robb looks at everyone in the room, before revealing his choice. "Tara Clegane…"

"Tara!" Theon says.

"Why not Jon Umber or Lord Karstark?" Catelyn asks.

Eddard is looking at his son smiling, "Because if we leave for Riverrun Tywin Lannister will believe Robb made a critical mistake and attack because Tara is in charge…"

Robb nods, "At least that is what I am hoping will happen." When Robb reveals his plans to the gathered Lords it is received with mixed feelings. Commanding paid troops is one thing commanding war hardened nobles is another.

"What are your plans for Walder Frey?" Tara asks.

"While in Riverrun I will invite him to the castle and acquiesce to his demands." Robb looks at Sansa, "I am sorry Sansa, but you will have to marry Olyvar Frey…"

Sansa shakes her head, "No!"

Cat tries to comfort her, "Walder Frey may reject the offer…"

Tara sighs when she hears Robb's plan. She needs more time, "Whatever you offer Walder Frey must wait until the war is decided…"

"We need Walder Frey's army." Robb vehemently replies.

"No we don't." Eddard says speaking up, "Any dealings with Walder Frey will be a distraction…When we reach Riverrun make the offer, but wait until we have unseated the Lannisters…"

Jon Umber clears his throat, "What of the Iron Throne…If we unseat the Lannisters who will take the throne?"

Robb looks at his father, "I am the King in the North! The Iron Throne be damned. Stannis Baratheon can have it for all I care…"

Two days after Robb leaves Tara gathers the banner lords in the main hall. "My brother Sandor Clegane will attack Clegane's Keep and burn it to the ground…"

"Aye!" Sandor says.

Jon Umber looks at Sandor, "You really going to burn your family home down?"

"Yes I am!"

"This I got to see…"

"Lord Manderly will take an army and burn the fields and crops from Hornvale to Ashemark…By the time you return Lord Tywin should have marched to the god's eye lake…"

King's Landing

Tywin is in a meeting with his banners, "Are you sure?"

"Yes my lord. The Young Wolf has gone to Riverrun for his Lord Grandfather's funeral. He took five thousand men with him and left Tara Clegane in charge at Harrenhall…" With this news Tywin Lannister gathers a mixed army of Lannister and Tyrell men to march on Harrenhall. Loras Tyrell remains in the Capital with his sister and Grandmother.

Clegane's Keep

Fire and smoke rise up from Sandor's childhood home. A home of misery and pain for him personally. Sandor is a half of a mile from the fire as the Keep burns. The servants swear an oath to Sandor after he gives them a chance to do so. Jon Umber is on a horse at his side and hands Sandor a bag of coins.

With the Keep destroyed Sandor and the five hundred men his sister placed under his command ride back towards Harrenhall. They travel through the mountain paths angling away from Lannisport. After a week they come upon Kevin Lannister in a heated battle with Lord Manderly at Goldentooth.

Sandor pulls his hound's head helm down, "ATTACK!" Sandor flanks Kevin Lannister's forces from the rear and decimates his archers. After another hour of fighting Kevin Lannister is captured. They leave the enemy wounded on the battlefield and move on towards Ashemark burning and killing.

Harrenhall

Tara sits at a desk writing a letter to Robb informing him that Kevin Lannister had been captured. She also advices him to give Kevin Lannister to the Karstarks to smooth things over with them and ease tensions. Now Tara has to deal with Tywin Lannister. She is sure she can defeat him on the battlefield, but Tywin still had a huge army at his command. Underestimating him would be just as foolish as he underestimating her. Her mind goes back to Theon Greyjoy, it had been Robb's plan to send Theon to the Iron Isles to broker a deal with Balon Greyjoy and convince him to fight with the Starks against the Lannisters.

"What if Balon Greyjoy was dead?" She says to herself. Tara weighs the idea of having Balon Greyjoy killed then sending Theon to claim lordship of the Iron Isles. Problem with that plan was that Theon in many ways was still a boy and weak. The Iron Born respect strength. "I will have to build Theon up as a leader, but that will take to long…" Then Tara looks at the latest reports from White Harbor.

Ever since Robb decided not to send Theon Tara had been secretly training another army in White Harbor for sea battle. It was a mix of Sell Swords, Pirates, and northerners. A few more weeks and the fleet would be ready. Another problem was Wild Fire. Stannis Baratheon lost a large portion of his forces to a single Wild Fire attack.