I'm sorry for many things: for not updating (I've been doing a lot of things lately), for the length of this chapter and for its ending. I'll do my best to update soon.
Thank you for the continued support. You're great.
Chapter 46 : The Red Eye
Waiting was probably the worst thing he had to endure. He knew many men were making a sacrifice; many of them would probably die as they led Lannisters' forces towards the Gods Eye. And meanwhile, Robb had to wait until that right moment.
He had told Dany to wait for his sign. She couldn't just fly above them, giving them time to react. The dragons had to attack by surprise, and she had agreed.
Grey Wind's muscles were tense. His attention was solely focused on the noises the wind carried, until Robb heard them approaching. Men yelled and screamed. The sound of steel against steel rung in the air, but he couldn't move. Not before they were as close as they needed to be. It had to be a perfect strategy which led them to victory. And if all worked out as planned, it wouldn't be long before they could be declared winners of this long war.
Robb's first sight of an unsullied was watching them move in formation as they followed the scarce northern men running ahead. They moved like a wall, destroying everything that crossed their path. If they didn't find a way in which to walk through that wall, they would never be able to defeat Tywin Lannister's army behind them.
"What are you waiting for?" Greajon asked in a rough voice, forcing his loud manners to be as quiet as possible.
"The right time," Robb answered mere seconds before he gave the order to advance. And then he whistled, forcing Grey Wind to howl. That was the sign, and as planned Rhaegal and Drogon, ridden by Dany, attacked from east and west, giving the Unsullied only one option: walking towards the lake. They would never go backwards, as it was too late for them to retreat and Robb had already planned not to allow it.
The men did not scream as the dragons breathed fire, but Robb could smell the burnt flesh as he spurred his horse, his own men following him without a doubt. His goal was to finally face the man who had made his life a living hell, the one who thought of him as a boy and yet had to bite his tongue time and time again with each of Robb's victories. Tywin Lannister would see how the North remembered. He would feel fear at his sight.
Robb Stark was not a boy. He was a King, and as such he demanded respect.
A few unsullied scattered, looking how to regroup. Meanwhile, Dany expertly flew above them, leading Drogon over the Lannisters, avoiding each arrow and throwing those sharp scales with excellent precision.
He unsheathed his sword and felt the metal cut through flesh. The first man that crossed his path fell off his horse and was crushed by the knights following him behind.
Light rain started to pour, mixing with the smell of sweat, blood and burnt flesh. He could taste death on his tongue as drops of water dribbled down his face.
They couldn't lose. That was not even a possibility.
As he moved closer and closer to the core of the Lannisters' army, he caught a glimpse of the Old Lion, his face a mask of indifference and his voice roaring orders even as he saw his men dying. They would lose, but Robb wouldn't be happy until their debts were paid. And so the Young Wolf opened his path and wordlessly challenged Tywin to a duel. It was about honor more than about the bigger triumph. Tywin Lannister would not let himself be killed by some common soldier, and Robb was well aware of it.
"Fool. Still green, summer boy," Tywin taunted with severity as he dismounted his horse.
Robb jumped off his own as gracefully as he could considering his armor. His fury only grew as he noticed Tywin carrying Ice, his late father's sword and by birthright his to have.
"Summer boy? Perhaps. But I've bested you once more and this time it will cost you everything. Your mistakes are about to be paid."
Tywin might've been old, but he was a fierce warrior. Robb had no doubt this would be one of the hardest battles he would ever fight. Indeed, he was still very young, no matter the many battles he had survived up until then. His first winter was just approaching and this was his first war. But he wasn't naïve anymore.
In one small distraction, Tywin managed to cut his shoulder not deeply, but making him bleed in excess. In retaliation, Robb was able to cut the man's side. For a long while, they seemed to have forgotten the many men fighting around, only listening to the sound of their swords clashing together.
Robb almost slipped when he stepped on a rock, but his movements to keep balance lied to Tywin.
"I'll cut your head so you can join your father!"
Robb barely dodged Ice, and swiped his own much smaller sword towards Tywin's feet. He cut one in half and saw the man crumpling down like an old tower being destroyed by time. Tywin fell to his knees without a sound of pain, but eyes wide and full of anger and surprise.
"I'll show you honor," Robb muttered, looking at the Old Lion directly in the eyes. "This is how you treat your enemies and prove respect." His sword sank slowly and with difficulty through Tywin's chest, stabbing him right through the heart. "Now I take what's mine."
Blood oozed from Tywin's wounds and mouth as he took his last breath. Robb left his old sword buried in Tywin's chest and took Ice from the dying man's hand.
He took notice of the men still battling. Robb felt the sweat that clung to his forehead, the salty taste of the beads rolling down his face mixed with the metallic flavor of blood. He looked up and saw Drogon flying in circles above him, seemingly waiting to land close by. This was one more step towards their final victory, just a step closer to have peace and worry about the Seven Kingdoms like a good ruler should.
The weak rays of sun filtered through the thick clouds and he could make the shape of Dany.
Robb was about to smile, about to growl for his triumph, but when he tried, he felt the sharp point of blazing hot metal through his stomach, cutting through his armor as if he wore paper clothes. Weakened, he turned around and saw the figure of a well-known enemy.
The Red Woman grinned evilly at him.
"Thank you for cleaning my way, Stark," she muttered like the voice of a viper. "Now nothing will be able to stop me."
He tried to keep himself upright, but his legs seemed to lose their strength. They gave out and first he landed on his left knee to soon end up lying on his side on the mud, watching Melisandre studying him, waiting for his last breath.
The wailing sound of Drogon cut through the air and promptly his head was cradled in two very soft hands.
"My Wolf," Dany whispered, her lips very close to his. "You promised me. You cannot lie to me. Hold on to me. To life, for I don't want to see our children only hearing stories of their brave father. You must teach them, spoil them and see them grow." She took his hand and pressed it to the small bump of her belly, covered by the cinch and metal scales. "Our princess will need you."
He tried to speak, but only blood left his mouth. Robb coughed and gripped her clothes. "My Queen, the Seven Kingdoms are yours as am I. Now and always."
Grey Wind howled at the time Dany wailed in pain and fury.
Robb was too tired to move, but his eyes stayed open. He saw his blood in Dany's hand. He watched her screaming words in Valyrian he could not make out, but her dragons could.
Grey Wind jumped on Melisandre, biting her and holding her only long enough so Drogon and Rhaegal could stand at each side of her. Melisandre slapped the direwolf away, swatting at him with incredible force for such a slender woman.
"You'll burn, witch," Dany threatened with a rage Robb had never witnessed before. "I'll make you burn. And you'll wish your god to save you." She clenched her fists. "No one takes what belongs to the dragon. No one!"
Melisandre smirked. "You do not know the secrets of the fire like I do, child. Your dragons are bound to me."
"I'm the Mother of Dragons! The Unburnt! You will not tell me what to do, Red Woman! You will not take my husband, the King of the Seven Kingdoms!" Daenerys approached the Red Woman still bathed in Robb's blood as she ordered her dragons to spit fire. She took Ice with both hands and with inhuman strength, she stabbed Melisandre as the flames surrounded them both.
Robb gasped, wishing his voice didn't fail him so he could call for Dany. He had no desire to watch her die, because if it was his hour to meet the gods, he didn't want Iagan to be left alone and to lose their unborn child.
But then he heard as the Red Woman screamed in pain while Dany was still. She was untouched while her clothes turned to ashes. Ice glowed under the heat and Melisandre yelped, cursing Daenerys and everyone else.
He couldn't look away as one woman slowly turned to nothing but dust, while his queen stood there.
His eyelids became heavy, and the last thing he could feel were the soft hands against his cheeks, and the tender and familiar kiss against his lips.
"Robb, my love. My King."
His world became a blur before it turned black.