(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)
(Yohn Royce POV, Mountains of the Moon)
One could practically feel the tension that hung in the air.
As the army marched forward, they were prepared for any potential attack, as they were nearing the infamous valley.
The Valley of Death was considered a dead-mans land due to the many armies of the Vale that had perished there.
Each time the Arryns would rouse their armies to finally rid themselves of the Clansmen, they would be forced to go through the Valley of Death where many a valemen would meet their end.
The last Vale offensive into the mountains had been three centuries ago when the Arryn King had lost his father to a skirmish between the bitter foes. The Foolish Falcon would die and alongside him many of the most prominent heirs of the Vale. It would culminate in the regency of his widow Lady Sharra Arryn and the events that followed.
His thoughts would be interrupted as the entire line came to a halt.
Yohn frowned as a rider approached him from the front "Problems?" He asked.
Before responding, the rider saluted him.
"There seem to be various stacks of rock on the way, the men have begun clearing them, My Lord" the rider explained.
Before the rider could continue to explain the situation, Yohn felt his instincts warn him of incoming danger, turning his head upwards, his eyes widened.
Above him were figures pushing what seemed to be large boulders toward the army below, and saw one such boulder rapidly move closer to his position.
"FIND COVER NOW!" He warned, managing to avoid the boulder.
The poor rider and his stead were too late as they were crushed by the incoming boulder.
…
(Lorimas POV, Mountains of the Moon)
Lorimas spurred his horse onwards, as he witnessed a significant portion of the front line be crushed by the boulders striking them.
Men screamed in pain and agony echoed they were squashed to death. The horses that survived flattened anyone on the way, as they attempted to flee the danger.
"SHOOT THE FUCKERS THAT ARE PUSHING THE DAMMNED BOULDER!" He ordered.
The Commanders were the first to get themselves together and began reigning in the panicked men, as the archers followed my orders and began shooting at the figures, striking them down.
All the while rocks and boulders fell upon them, and if that wasn't enough the bastards begin lighting stacks of hay on fire and sent them towards us, hoping to cause more chaos in our lines.
Lorimas moved forward towards Yohn's position, the man looked exhausted as he helped push the boulders of the survivors. Around him were the various stretchers that would be used to transport them toward safety.
The Lords and Officers that survived the initial boulders had also gathered around him, waiting for their next move. The men looked haunted by what they witnessed, then again seeing a man being crushed into a paste right in front of them, tended to do that.
"Any word on the Scouts we sent?" He questioned.
Shaking his head "Nay, I fear they might've been the first to die" his voice was somber. "Go ahead Lorimas, you should prepare the men, it will only get worse as we enter the valley, I'll take care of the pass"
Nodding in agreement, He turned towards the Officers around them. A plan to deal with the situation was already in mind.
While they were currently trapped within the passage, making them vulnerable to the clansmen, the men had managed to clear most of the obstacles to the Valley, though they were crushed to death for their efforts.
While he pitied them, their deaths won't be in vain.
"Have the men abandon the supplies, we need to get into the Valley as soon as possible to prevent the Clansmen from properly positioning themselves" He yelled out.
It was clear to everyone that the boulders and flaming hay were being used to delay the Army. This meant that they have yet to get into position, otherwise, his men would've already been slaughtered.
The Officers saluted before getting on their horses nodded and set off to complete their orders.
Lorimas turned to the remaining Lords and gave another set of orders "Gather the injured and then withdraw, The rest of you follow me into the valley, we need to engage the clansmen" He roared.
The men nodded towards him, as they quickly got themselves in order.
Hundreds of the famed Knights of the Vale galloped towards the Valley, their hooves like drums beating into the ground. Behind them was the infantry that followed suit, ready for the battle that was to come.
Lorimas could see the clansmen in the distance attempting to get themselves into position. They were caught by surprise by the appearance of the Cavalry under his command and tried to avoid the incoming charge as Lorimas spearheaded right into their centre.
Dealing a great blow to the enemy, as hundreds of clansmen fell to lances or were cut down by swords. Some met a horrendous death as the horses trampled them to the ground.
There had to be at least four squadrons worth of men gathered by the Clansmen. Most of them wore basic leather tunics for armor. Where's a few of them wore light plate armor, over the tunics, signaling them out as important figures to be slain by his men.
The infantry and archers that had followed them outside of the passage swiftly formed ranks near the entrance. Leaving only enough room for his Cavalry to withdraw, as they prepared for another charge.
Desperate to break us before Vale forces could gain a proper foothold, the clansmen charged at the infantry.
"Have the archers rain down arrows on them while they're still stunned" Were his first words as he made it back.
The Archers moved ahead of the ranks as they knocked their bows, the whistling of arrows could be heard as they were sent flying and soon, screams and thuds could be heard as the clansmen were either killed directly or found stuffed with arrows, dying a slow and painful death.
This forced the charging clansmen into a halt, as they got their bearings and tried to avoid the rain of arrows.
"Do not dally, send in the second charge!" He shouted.
As the archers withdrew, an opening was made as hundreds of Knights made another charge.
While the clansmen held some training, they were no experts by any means. Meaning they were still vulnerable when on open grounds. Had they successfully trapped his army within the passage, they could've bloodied his force, but thankfully he made the call to enter the valley, preventing such a situation, if barely.
The Clansmen despite being outskilled and outnumbered as more and more men appeared through the passage entrance, fought with heavy fervor. Not giving an inch as they were slaughtered by his men. Lorimas could respect that determination, it's unfortunate they decided to use it against him.
Placing his full focus on the battle, it was clear that the Clansmen were going to fall, it was only a matter of time.
The valemen for their part were performing quite, as they sought to prove their skill and worth. The Riverlands campaign had largely been fought and won by the Banners, leaving the Valemen mostly as support or to garrison captured strongholds. These men wanted blood and glory, and by the gods, they were achieving it.
A group of riders approached his position.
Turning towards them, he noticed one of the riders was a man that had been left with Yohn, moving towards him and bowing his head.
Signaling him to raise his head, the man spoke.
"My lord," he began "All injured and crippled personnel have been moved towards a safe area, the clansmen behind the boulders have either been killed or fled"
Lorimas was pleased by the news "What of the remaining men within the passage," He asked.
As the man tried to respond, Lorimas could see hundreds of men appearing at the entrance, Leading them was none other than Yohn, it seemed that they were ready to reinforce him.
A horn could be heard as it announced its presence to both forces. Without a word, the men around him swiftly got into position as they prepared to welcome the reinforcements.
Whilst the clansmen could only grit their teeth at the situation, ready to face their death head-on for their families.
The clan chiefs let out war cries, pushing their men to fight, for survival.
Lorimas raising his sword high, let out a roar as he ordered his men to meet the charge.
Both armies rushed each other, as ancient enemies met again, with death on their minds.
…
(Chief Chayk POV, Valley of Death)
The men were breaking, you didn't continue charging at a wall and expect a different result.
There was simply no way for them to fight an army that seemed endless as more men appeared through the entrance of the passage.
They would have to retreat, or they'd leave their homes defenseless to the wrath of the invaders should they choose to foolishly fight this losing battle in this accursed Valley.
He'd already been uncertain of their victory, too many of the clansmen had already died, trapped outside of the mountains as they were picked off by the Andali.
He would not give up, He had every intention of harassing the Andali as they slowly made their way into the mountains and the caverns that made up their homes, hopeful that they'd be able to tire them and force them back.
He vowed that if he ever got his hands on that damned 'Foreigner' then not even the gods themselves would save him from the fate that would be inflicted upon him.
"RETREAT!" He roared out as the tides shifted in Andali's favor.
Ignoring the bloody screams of men and women who lay dying, those from his clan and the wiser ones from the others quickly made their escape as they allowed the other clans to serve as a distraction for their escape.
The last thing he felt as he made his way from the valley, was sorrow and fury at the lives lost and the fate that would befall his people.
For the first time in several millennia, the Valley of Death was soaked in the blood of clansmen.
What was once an impregnable point that united the Clans of old against the invading Andali, would now be the staging grounds by which their enemy wrought ruin on them.