Blood and Winter

Chapter X

Tywin frowned angrily as he listened to the reports on the casualties dealt to them today. Out of his thirteen thousand strong cavalry force, he now had barely eight hundred left. He should have realised the moment Robb Stark so blatantly attacked his camp in the middle of the night that a desperate manoeuvre was what he wanted him to make.

But much like always, Tywin found that Robb was always a step ahead of him.

It was only after Robb had retreated; their food supply burnt that Tywin realised he should have pulled back the centre forces to reinforce his position. But he didn't, just as Robb had wanted and predicted, allowing the Young Wolf to slip through his fingers. Then, upon counting what little remained of their food supply – a days worth at the least – Tywin realised he would have to move up his schedule. He'd held back his cavalry to make sure that when the Vale arrived, they could run down the Stark forces in a pincer strike.

Yet with his food depleted, Tywin had listened to his commander's advice of using the cavalry to deal a devastating strike to the Starks. The hope was that they could force the Starks back providing them some extra breathing room as well as dealing heavy losses to them.

That had all been hopeful thinking as they once more played directly into the hands of the Young Wolf. His cavalry was destroyed and the Starks remained exactly where they were, unmoving, despite suffering quite a number of losses themselves. Even with those losses, the Starks still had not suffered as badly as they had.

It was equal parts admirable and frustrating to Tywin.

The only good news to counteract everything that had happened so far, was that the Vale were a day out. Already they were on the seventh day and it seems that the Starks were not pushing their advantage, which was a worrying and confusing thought to them all. The Young Wolf had always, from the very beginning being on the move. Not only during this battle, where he constantly tried to insight Tywin to take action, but also from the very beginning of the campaign.

Every action Robb Stark had taken was not only to weaken him, but to lure him directly where Robb wanted him most.

However, the lack of action on Robb's part was worrying as Tywin had learned from experience, it meant he was planning something. "We should take this opportunity and fallback to a more defensible location." One of his commanders suggested.

"And where exactly would that be?" Another shot back, just as irritated as everyone else at their current predicament. "We go any further south and we'll be on the Kingsroad and then it's a straight shot to King's Landing. We're already aware that Lord Buckwell, Hogg, Staunton, Brune and Celtigar have already pledged their allegiance to Robb Stark and provided what aid they could to them. Who's to say that Lord Hayford and Stokeworth haven't done the same as well?"

"We need to do something!" Lord Swyft snapped angrily. "We can't just sit here and do nothing. What proof do we have that the Young Wolf won't attack us at any moment when our guard lowers?"

As the Lords began to erupt into arguments once more, Tywin rubbed the bridge of his nose irritably. "Enough." He said shortly, his voice cutting through the clambering noise and silencing those in the tent. "No wonder Robb Stark has been able to run circles around us when you act like a bunch of children."

There was more than a few looks of anger at those words, but many looked very embarrassed at the reminder of their many failings.

"Once the reinforcements from the Vale arrive, we will hold the advantage and with Robb Stark dead his kingdom will crumble." Ser Addam Marbrand replied.

"If you believe that then you're more foolish than I thought." Tywin sighed. "Robb Stark is beloved by the people of the North and the Riverlands, they'll continue fighting till they're fully subjugated which could take months if not years. The Reach could have been convinced to abandon them, but with the child growing within the Tyrell girl, that means that the Reach will not surrender this opportunity to rise to power. Killing Robb Stark will no longer be the devastating blow it once would be."

"How can it not be? Take away Robb Stark and we remove their greatest strategist."

"And that is where you're wrong. Robb Stark is undoubtedly one of the greatest military commanders in Westeros, possibly surpassing even Randall Tarly and Jason Mallister." Tywin explained. "But that is not his greatest strength, no that lies in his ability to use those around him in the most effective way possible. To stand on the backs of those who are equal to him or better than him to reach higher than any person could do on their own. Taking away Robb Stark doesn't mean as much as used to due to the fact they can replace him with his heir."

It was Kevan that spoke up this time. "Even so, removing Robb Stark will be a devastating blow to their war effort."

"Perhaps, for a time. But there are only two individuals in Westeros that I know could prove to be a match for Robb Stark, and they're not in this room or allied to us." Who they were didn't need to be mentioned, they were key aspects in the Westerland and North campaign, men who had fought in three wars. "With those two still alive, an heir to rally behind and the memory Robb Stark and their desire for revenge will be deep, victory will be not simple or easy."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Once we deal with Robb Stark, we don't rest, we don't stop, we hunt down and capture Margaery Tyrell. With her as our captive, we can force the Tyrells to surrender. Jon stark won't want his nephew or niece to be harmed and as the only Stark in power, he'll bring the North to heel and the only threats then will be the Riverlands, but they'll cave easily and we may not even need to fight due to the love they hold for the Young Wolf."


"Has he had any rest at all?" Patrek Mallister asked, looking towards Robb who was sat laughing with a few men. They were just common soldiers from the Reach. But he had discarded his thick, fur cloak, decorated tunic and was dressed much like every soldier, simple leathers and chainmail. He could almost pass off as common soldier if they weren't aware of who he was and what he had done.

Many still looked disbelievingly at the sight before them, some questioning if it wasn't even really true, that the King of all people was sat amongst them. Those he was sat with had quickly come to terms that the King was with them and they were laughing and joking with him as if he were just like them, a simple soldier.

"From what I've heard and seen, no." Lucas Blackwood. "I switched out with Daryn and Perwyn a few hours ago, but he's been doing this since last night. Already went through all the right-side cavalry detachment and the right flank."

"Why's he doing this anyway?"

"To be honest, I'm just as confused as you. I'm just surprised that Smalljon isn't with him, this is right up his street, ain't it?" Patrek chuckled at Lucas' words, all of them had learned pretty early on was that Smalljon loved to drink and party, almost as much as he loved to fight.

"You and me both." It was then that Robb got to his feet, sharing goodbyes to those he had been talking to and walking through the camp. He'd stop occasionally to idly chat with a few men before moving onto a particularly large group. There the shock they showed was great, but much like before, Robb seemed to calm them down and just seamlessly fit into the group.

"It's a strange change of pace, I was honestly expecting to be capitalising on the advantage we scored yesterday. Without their cavalry and the losses, they've suffered, we hold an advantage." This was one of the main points of confusion amongst many of the commanders who had asked many questions about why they weren't attacking.

"Robb will have a plan, never seen him without one." Lucas answered. "He's got something planned and I reckon this whole thing is part of it."

"Kind of elaborate, isn't it?"

Patrek's concerns were valid, Robb had proved time and time again to be capable of overcoming great odds. But to those that knew the truth, things looked bleak and unbeatable. Forty thousand men from the Vale plus the twenty thousand men under the command of the Old Lion. If that was the case, then that left them with eighteen thousand men to fight sixty thousand.

The pressure of that weighed heavily on everyone and there had been a great deal of tension when the news had been leaked. They had expected this of course, with an army this size, spies would be more than expected to make trouble wherever they could, they had their own spies hidden amongst the Lannister forces. To sow discord by revealing the news of Vale reinforcements was standard tactics, demoralising an enemy force that was running high on numerous back-to-back victories was just good sense.

And from the way things seemed to be shifting amongst the camps, Robb was attempting to counteract the drop in morale and it was working. Simply by appearing and talking to the men as if he were a common soldier, Robb was raising the morale of the troops once more.


Riding across the grassy fields, Dickon slowed his horse down from a gallop to a gentle trot as he and his men closed in on the entrance to the command base. Numerous wooden palisades had been set up, forming a sort of makeshift fort around the base of the hill, many more levels leading up to the top of the hill.

He'd never seen anything like it before, not on an open battle like this.

"Halt!" One of the guards shouted. "Who goes there?"

"My name is Dickon Tarly, I have an urgent message for the King from my father, Lord Randal Tarly!" He informed loudly.

There was a moment of silence. "Let them through!" Part of the palisades opened up and Dickon and his men, five hundred mounted knights rode through. Dickon went straight up, flanked by a small group of ten soldiers, the remainder of the men he had brought remaining on the lower levels of the hill-fort.

"Dickon! What brings you here?" Garlan asked, walking up towards the heir of Horn Hill as he dismounted from his horse.

"I have an urgent message for the King from my father. Where is he?" Dickon asked.

Garlan looked down at the men from the top of the hill, Dickon did the same looking upon the bloody battlefield spread out before him. The Lannister army was in sight and the left and right flanks were a good mile out further forward. Only the centre was nearby at the foot of the hill having been recalled after the battle yesterday, with the cavalry detachments just slightly in front of the centre but in line with the flanks.

"He should be at left cavalry contingent, I'm not sure when he'll be back, but he will be eventually. You're welcome to go there if you want, but I would suggest waiting. Please, come sit we were about to eat." Garlan directed Dickon to the seat who reluctantly did so, moving towards a large group of people. "introductions should be in order, everyone, this is Dickon Tarly. Dickon, these are members of Robb's personal guard."

"Dickon?" Smalljon snorted, sharing a few chuckles of amusement from people. It didn't bother the heir of Horn Hill like it once had and instead he just remained stone-faced. Around him, Daryn, Wendel Manderly, Robin Flint, Perywn and Olyvar chuckled in a bout of childish amusement. The other members looked similarly amused though seemed to have more control over themselves.

"So, what about my brother, how is he doing?" Garlan asked, wondering how Loras was doing in the Westerland campaign.

"He's fine, he led the charge upon Clegane's Keep and Lannisport and is by my father's side in the siege of Casterly Rock." Dickon said and slowly the group dissolved into simple conversation as always. Remaining silent, Dickon listened to it, watching as men North, Riverlands and the Reach all laughed a joked like old friends. It was strange in comparison to the force of his fathers which comprised nearly entirely of men from the Reach with maybe a few hundred soldiers from the Westerlands.

This was men from three of the realms seamlessly working together as if they were all from the same place. As if they had grown up together and being friends since they were children.

"The King's coming!" A soldier shouted, Dickon quickly rising to his feet.

"Calm down, Dick. The King's probably gonna wanna get some sleep first before he speaks to anyone." Smalljon grunted out.

"I cannot, the news I carry is urgent." Moving forwards, Dickon made his way towards Robb quickly. "Your grace, may I have a moment of your time?"

Robb paused, his eyes tiredly blinking as he looked up the heir of Horn Hill. "Who are you?"

"Dickon Tarly, your grace."

"Randal Tarly's son." A look of realisation came onto his face. "Well, please, by all means." Robb and Dickon made his way into the largest tent, Dickon pausing nervously as he looked upon the wolves laying on the floor in a corner. Robb didn't pay them any mind, just heading straight towards a small wooden table where a number of jug and a few goblets were sat there. "Wine?"

"No, thank you, your grace." Dickon shook his head and Robb shrugged, pouring himself a goblet before heading to the table. His gaze looked upon the map as two soldiers walked in carrying some food that they placed at Robb's side.

Dickon moved forward, sitting down at the table, he too looking upon the map in confusion. He could make out the formations of the Stark troops as well as the formations of the Lannister, but there was a large host moving south. Just by looking at the wooden pieces denoting units and troop formations, the Vales had more men than both the Stark's and Lannister's combined.

"Would you like something to eat, Dickon?"

"No, thank you, your grace."

"Please, just Robb." He replied, taking a large bite out of the chicken and washing it down with a big gulp of wine. "What news does your father bring, has he conquered the Rock? Your father and I had initially predicted that at the current rate, without incurring major losses it would take another three weeks before it fell."

"No, your grace, Casterly Rock still remains strong, even with the blockade." Dickon answered. "My father requests that you follow me and my men along your personal guard and men of note to retreat west. We have boats, in the God's Eye waiting to transport you all across. It is my father's belief that it would be wise to bring you to safety while having the men here act as a decoy."

Robb was silent, pausing momentarily as he went to drink more wine, but quickly went back to drink and eating like normal. "I'm afraid there's a problem with that, Dickon. You and your father are good men, reliable men, that's why I entrusted the Westerland campaign to him. But I'm afraid that you've misjudged me."

"Your grace?"

"Tell me, Dickon, what do you see when you look at these maps?" He indicated to the map directly in front, indicating the lands of House Buckwell, mainly the location of their battle, another showing the entirety of Westeros with single figurines indicating the various army locations.

"I don't understand the question?"

"I want you to tell me what you think of the situation and what do you suggest we do?"

"Retreat, your grace!" Dickon repeated urgently. "The Lannister's have twenty thousand men, you only eighteen thousand and the Vale are marching south with forty thousand men to give them aid. Your grace, my father requests that you abandon the battle here and retreat to a more secure location."

Robb smirked. "You're right, retreating would be the safest option, but it's not the one I'm going to take." Dickon looked ready to argue, but Robb raised one hand to silence him. "I'm aware of how outnumbered we are, even with the injured bolstering my ranks to possibly twenty thousand, the enemy still have three times what we have. But that's the thing, having a large force that size requires a clear leader, one skilled enough to utilise those numbers properly. They don't have that, we on the other hand do."

Dickon looked thoroughly confused. "I-I, I don't understand."

"That's alright, many of the commanders were confused as well. Just know that I have the plan to utilise the difference in numbers to our advantage. With it, we can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."

"How?"

Robb smirked, reaching out and taking the wolf figurine from the map of Westeros, he moved it past the lion and placed it directly on King's Landing. And as he did, Dickon's eyes began to widen in shock. His mind slowly fitting the pieces together and as he did, he realised just how risky his plan could be.

If it worked, then defeating the Lannister's on the battlefield wasn't even a priority.

Victory would be theirs anyway.


"Didn't go so well, huh?" Garlan noted, watching as Dickon came out with a frown upon his face. "Guess he told you about the plan for tomorrow?"

"Yes." Dickon replied simply, the two moving to join the group of knights once more. "Do you think it will work?"

"Robb's plan?" Garlan asked, Dickon nodding his head. "I'm inclined to say yes. He's not been wrong so far and I trust him. If he says it'll work, then I believe that it will."

"Will ye be joining us then, Dick?" Smalljon asked.

"My father sent me here to escort the King to safety. He never told me what to do if the King said no." Dickon replied. "But yeah, I'm going to fight." This made Smalljon laugh, smacking Dickon the back and thrusting a tankard of ale into his hands. Every camp had been distributed with the last of the ale and wine from their stores, all as a final gift to the men before tomorrow's battle.

As Smalljon manhandled Dickon into drinking more ale than the young man could handle, Garlan watched Dacey shoot him a look before rising to her feet. "Here, Smalljon, give him the rest of mine." Garlan handed over his tankard and rose up, following after Dacey as he did.


As the sun began to rise on the eighth day, light spilled across the field that would become known as the Bloody Antlers. As it did, it revealed the two armies staring across at one another. The Stark centre had moved forwards once more to link up with the flanks and now they were stood across from the Lannister army.

Moving forwards upon his mount, Robb watched as the men before him parted allowing him and his personal guard to pass through them. At the head of him, Robb watched Grey Wind, Nymeria and her pack growling at those nearby, but those in the Stark army had grown used to these actions, the fear it had once elected giving away to indifference. And as Robb moved through the army, he took note of the various men amongst the ranks.

Many had arms in slings, heads wrapped in bandages and deep gashes that were still healing.

His army of eighteen thousand had grown to twenty-two thousand after Robb had recruited men from the injured. The initial estimates of possible two thousand men capable of joining giving them a force equal in number to that of the Lannisters had been wrong. Double the number agreed to fight. Nearly every man who could hold a sword and stand on their own two feet had agreed to fight.

As he came to the front of the force, he moved towards the lords that were gathered there, greeting them in turn. "Lord Forrester, I'm glad you could make it." Robb greeted with a smile upon his face, the grizzled face of Gregor turned from his son to greet him as well. His injuries during the Lannister charge had been a cause for a great deal of concern. Many had believed he would die due to his injuries and considering his pale and clammy skin, that was still very much a possibility.

"Well, considering that the Greatjon went down in a blaze of glory I couldn't let the big bastard show me up, now could I?" Gregor's words got more than a few chuckles from those around him, Robb reaching out and clasping hands with the man.

"Glad to have you back, missed your sense of humour and your skills as a warrior will be needed." Gregor bowed his head in thanks.

Turning away from the man, Robb looked out to the Lannisters. For the first time in this battle, the Stark army held the advantage in numbers, even if it would be short-lived and four thousand were in various states of injury.

But there was a noticeable tension in the air, the Vale reinforcements were set to arrive today and this knowledge hung over everyone like an axe just waiting to fall. Robb's actions of going round and simply speaking with the men was the only thing that kept the men still willing to fight. And now Robb was facing off against one of the biggest challenges he had ever faced before.

His plan despite everything was risky and had a great chance of failure, but at this point, Robb was willing to risk everything to end the war as soon as possible. If he escaped, then maybe the defences he'd put in place in the Riverlands could hold long enough for him to scramble together a force capable of defeating the Lannisters.

Yet that would mean many more months of war, tens of thousands dead and possibly the complete destabilisation of Westeros. That was something Robb could not risk, already the backlash of this war would be great, if it continued any further then that backlash would only get worse. His wife and her family, Margaery, Willas and Olenna along with Edmure were already working to try and mitigate the damage that would come about because of this war, but how much was still uncertain.

This war needed to end as soon as possible and if Robb's plan worked, that would be exactly what happened. The thing was, despite telling his commanders in a way that made this plan seem like it could not fail, that was far from the truth, something he was sure they already knew.

His plan relied on a number of things all going right.

The timing, the Vale acting in the way he wanted it to, the Lannisters reacting the way he wanted them to, his men fighting the way he wanted them to and only two of those he could come close to controlling.

"Your grace!" A rider galloped quickly across the field towards him, looping around the left flank and across the front ranks of the Stark army. "The Vale, they're coming." The riders gaze flickered to the hill where they're command base once had been, it having been destroyed early this morning. And up, upon the crest of the hill, a sky-blue falcon soaring upon a moon in a sky-blue field rose up, the flag of House Arryn.

And following it, numerous more flags appeared.

Those of House Baelish, Royce, Belmore, Redfort and all the houses of the Vale were arriving at the top of the hill. But the attention of the Stark army turned to the sound of the armoured footsteps that marched across the field, arcing around the foot of the mountain.

And as they did, Robb smirked. 'Now's the time before their formations are set.'

Flicking his rein, Robb moved his horse forward till he stood at the front of his army, in full view of everyone. The simple act of moving forward drew attention away from the Vale army and to him, just as Robb wanted.

"Some of you may not be aware, but I had a chance yesterday to leave this battle and to flee across the Gods Eye. Perhaps I should have saved my own life as I'm sure many of you wish to do now. Maybe you're still thinking of fleeing, I can't fault you for that." His words earned mutterings from many. "But as you can tell; I didn't."

Robb took a deep breath to centre himself, his heart was pounding and he could feel a thin sheen of sweat forming upon his brow. The pressure he felt was almost overwhelming.

"By that point I had sat down and talked, and laughed and drank with many of you. I know many of you by name, many more by drunken acts and tales told by friends and family." His words elected quite a few chuckles; the reminder of yesterday's merriment seemed to have worked well in lifting the spirts ever so slightly. "I know that many of you have children or have pregnant wives that you want to go home to. I do to, and I desperately want to see my wife again, to see my child grow old."

Robb thought upon the image of Margaery in his mind and smiled.

"And I plan to have many more children." Again, laughter rang out, the Queens beauty was well-known. "I could have escaped ensured that I could." Robb repeated once more. "But in doing so, I'd be asking you to make a sacrifice that I wasn't willing to make. I could never ask that of any of you."

There was a silence amongst the men.

"When I sat with you, it was not as King, but as a simple man. And I'm still asking you, not as King but as Robb...fight." He said firmly, his eyes burning with determination. A shift came upon the Stark army as they all gripped their weapons tightly.

For some reason, despite only the front rows of the centre being able to hear him, the effect his words had on those that could hear him spread throughout the entire army. In this moment, despite the impossibility of it all, it was as if every man in the army was capable of hearing Robb's words.

"Not for King! Not for the lands you live on! But for you wives and your children!" Robb's tone shifted, growing louder and more aggressive and as he did, the soldiers of the Stark army reflected this change. The grips on their weapons tighter, their breathing heavier and the glares of determination blazing like a fire. "Fight with me! Lend me your strength one last time! Only together, united as one will we bring an end to Lannister tyranny!"

His words elected a loud cheer from the men.

"Fight! Fight with everything you have! And I promise you, that on this day, we will be victorious!" Robb rose his sword into his air and like a tidal wave, the Stark army exploded outwards. These cries were of such volume that the very earth around them shook, shocking Robb's and many other horses, not only in the Stark army but in the Vale and Lannister army. Each kicking back onto their hind legs and releasing a neigh.

This explosion of morale carried across the area, reaching the Vale and Lannister forces. Despite outnumbering them, the axe that had been hovering over the Stark army had shifted.

Now it was hanging over them.

Spinning his horse round, Robb turned to face the Lannisters. "Take the day!"

And as Robb charged across the field, his entire army gave chase. There was no discipline, no formation, nothing. A single mass of twenty thousand men charging across the fields of the Bloody Antlers, each releasing war cries that froze the enemies in there spots. It reached into the deepest, darkest depths of their souls and filled it with fear.


Gripping the reins of his horse tightly, Tywin nervously watched as the Stark army charged towards them across the field. There was no formation to their charge, just a group of thousands of men screaming their heads off as they came directly for them. And he could see it in the front ranks, the shifting of his men, they were scared and it was as he watched the wolves bound across, leading the cavalry, Robb Stark right up front that Tywin noticed the shaking grip he had on his rein.

He too was scared.

"Move the spearmen upfront! Prepare the archers!" Tywin ordered watching as the Stark's closed in on them rapidly. Nervously, Tywin studied the enemy, trying to figure out what they could be planning, all the while his forces moved and shifted to better prepare for the Starks.

"Fire!" Tywin shouted, watching as the Stark's closed in upon them.


As arrows flew through the air, Robb reacted quickly. "Cavalry, break off!"

At the front, Robb turned his horse to the right, a hard turn that nearly threw him off his horse. Behind him, thousands of mounted knights followed his lead, half breaking off to the left under the command of Ser Brynden while he took the right. It was a difficult turn, he momentarily looking back to see some men falling off their horses.

And as the arrows fell down, it revealed that while most of the cavalry force had managed to turn, just barely avoiding the arrows, a few dozen were not so lucky. The arrows pierced their armour and chainmail, digging into necks and eyes, some hitting horses and in pain, threw their riders off and trampled upon them. However, a large majority of the cavalry force was left untouched by the rain of arrows having turned just out of the range of the archers.

Lord Karstark who was in charge of the infantry watched the cavalry that had pulled ahead of them, breaking off and continued to push forwards. His gaze much like the rest of the infantry focused entirely upon the Lannister lines.

Even as a second wave of arrows fell upon them, no one stopped. Shields were raised, arrows thunking against the shield. There were cries of pain as some men were struck by arrows and killed. But those that did get hit, continued on. Soldiers watched as their comrades with arrows in their arms and shoulders just pushed on with grit teeth, pushing past the pain they felt.

As they drew closer to the Lannister frontlines, Karstark could see it.

The look in the eyes of the Lannister soldiers as they watched them run forwards, ignoring their injuries.

A look of fear.

He could see some looking to their comrades, silently questioning whether they were going to stay here and face this group of suicidal people. But as Ser Addam Marbrand lined up at the centre, he shouted for the men to form up.

A shift came over the Lannister men who despite their obvious fear, moved forwards, shields raised and spears pointed towards them.

Once again, the Stark cavalry changed direction, once believed to be heading for the flanks, suddenly turned and both groups converged upon the centre once more. Rickard smirked, gripping his blade tightly with a savage grin upon his face.

As the wolves and Direwolves closed in upon the Lannister lines first, the fear amongst the enemy grew larger. Robb at the forefront, sword pointing directly at the them. And it was more a reflexive action than anything else, the sight of the wolves leaping at them caused a few to lean away in fear.

In that moment, Robb and his cavalry struck.

It was a devastatingly powerful blow, they cutting through the front ranks of the Lannister army with devastating ease. "Kill the bastards!" Rickard roared, his war-cry echoing across the entire infantry as they charged through the hole that the cavalry had formed.


"It seems the Stark boy still has a surprise up his sleeve." Baelish muttered in amusement, watching as the two armies in front of him clash. Beside him, Yohn Royce watched the proceedings with a look of wonderment upon his face.

The Stark army was a devastating force, just cutting through the Lannisters with frightening ease. Even now, they continued to scramble in order to try and properly defend against the Starks, but their centre was just constantly folding. Robb and his army weren't stopping and it seemed that they were just continuing to build up momentum.

Already they had made their way halfway through the Lannister lines and the flanks were beginning to fold in. A trapping manoeuvre that Yohn thought would be the end of the Young Wolf.

But it didn't.

In fact, it seemed almost as if this act was further driving the Stark army onwards. As if the greater the resistance they faced, the stronger they became. Their momentum was building and building and they just smashed through every line of men that the Lannisters through at them.

'It's a suicidal charge.' Yohn realised in shock. 'Abandoning all act of defending themselves to attack the enemy with everything they have. How did he inspire them to do this?' He had of course heard the cheers of the Stark army; it was all but impossible not to hear them. But to hear them was one thing, to see them was another thing to entirely.

To see an army so inspired that they sacrificed all sense of self-worth, he'd never seen anything like it before.

'Are you seeing this?' He questioned, looking to the hooded man to his left, hidden slightly amongst the group of lords. The man noticed Yohn's gaze and turned, eventually nodding his head. "Lord Baelish."

"Not yet, Lord Royce." Baelish answered with a smirk upon his face, his mind whirling as a plan began to form. When he had come here, he hadn't expected Tywin Lannister to be so badly damaged. But they had lost more than half their troops and from what he was seeing, the only ones that seemed relatively unharmed and well out of harm's way were the Golden Company. 'Oh, and there they go.'

In that moment, the Golden Company seemed to have cut their losses, turning back and retreating from the battlefield.

'I'll finish this up quickly, march south and take the Golden Company for myself. Then nothing will stand between me and ruling the realm.' Baelish thought with a smirk upon his face. He'd never do it openly of course, no that was far too risky and left him open to far too many threats. In the shadows however, those threats could never reach him. "We wait a moment, let the Wolf walk a little further into the Lion's den so that he cannot escape."

"I see." Yohn muttered and turned to the Lord Nestor Royce and Ser Jasper Redfort. Both men moved forwards, drawing their blades and pointing it at the back of Lord Baelish who froze. "Lord Petyr Baelish, you're hereby stripped of your lands and title. Come down off your horse and surrender yourself, or die right here and now."

Petyr paused, not answering straight away. "Well, I must admit I'm quite disappointed in you." Petyr said. "To think that you would do something so obvious. I've known that you would betray me from the very beginning. You always argued so strongly to Lady Lysa that the Vale should aid Robb Stark, when I came along and convinced her to aid the Lannisters, I knew you'd betray me. Do you think I didn't plan for such a possibility?"

"That's the thing Lord Baelish, I did." Yohn replied with a smirk. "You're always been so very clever, its why you've done so well for yourself in the south, you fit right in with all the other people down here. But you've spent too long away from the Vale, you've forgotten just how loyal the men of the Vale are."

"Raise the flags." A voice called and it made Baelish freeze, his eyes widening in shock as he slowly turned around for the first time. He had been confident, so firm in the belief that he had everything under the control that he had never turned to face his aggressor. And as he did, the hooded man revealed himself and Baelish for the first time, looked petrified. Like everything in the world had come crumbling down around him, every plan he had made seemed for nought. "Hello, Lord Baelish."

Up above, a flag of a running grey Direwolf on an ice-white field was hoisted into the air and Lord Eddard Stark revealed himself to the world once more.


Nervously, Tywin watched as Robb Stark grew closer and closer. His attempts to cut him off by attacking him on the flanks failed and only seemed to push the Stark's to cut their way through his army that much quicker. And they did so with terrifying speed.

"My lord, the Vale, they aren't moving!" Lord Swyft shouted, panic clear in his voice.

Looking up, for the first time, he turned to the Vale, his mind having being so focused on the momentum of the Stark army. Watching in morbid horror as they grew closer and closer to him. And as he looked up to the hill where the Stark command base had once been, he looked to see that Lord Swyft was right, the Vale hadn't moved.

Their cavalry had formed up at the foot of the hill, the infantry appearing on the flanks, curving around the hill out of sight. Up on top where the flags of the various Houses of the Vale were flapping in the wind, he noticed that their seemed to be no movement.

The Vale seemed to be just content to wait and watch.

'Baelish, what are you doing?' Tywin questioned angrily. 'Do you plan to betray me? Let Robb Stark kill me or wait for us both to be weakened so that you can swoop into crush us both?' As the thought came to mind, his body froze, eyes slowly widening as he watched a flag rise into the air in the Vale camp.

The coat of arms of House Stark emblazoned upon it.

'So, this is your plan?! To betray me and join the Starks?!' Tywin clenched his fists tightly, watching as the Vale cavalry rushed towards them across the field, the infantry marching behind them. 'Do you believe that the truth of what you did to Eddard Stark won't be revealed. The Young Wolf will have your head on spike long before you get to do anything else. I'll make sure of it.'

Watching as the Robb grew ever closer, the Lannister's scrambling to try and figure out how to salvage the situation with the Vale betrayal. Some, mainly the flanks turned to try and halt the Vale cavalry, but this in turn took a vast amount of pressure off the Stark army, their momentum catapulting them through the entire army, breaking out. All that stood between them and the Starks was a few hundred meters of open space. The Golden Company having broken off some time ago only further worsening the situation.

It was in this moment that Tywin realised that there was nothing he could do.

This was his defeat.

He didn't say a word, simply turning his horse away from the battlefield and riding away. There was moment of silence once Tywin left, the Lords still there watching him go and then turning to the battlefield.

Ser Gregor was the first to follow after Tywin, he doing so almost as soon as the Old Lion left.

The rest of the Lords giving chase moments later.


With a shout, Robb swung his sword round, cutting deep into the neck of one Lannister soldier before continuing to charge on, his horse knocking two more soldiers out of the way. Down by his side, Grey Wind, Nymeria and the wolves continued to bound along the floor, claws flashing and teeth digging deep into the neck of any soldier they could get their hands on.

And behind him, all the men of the Stark army followed.

The cavalry taking point and the infantry close behind, both taking a wedge formation that just barrelled through any defence the Lannisters tried to make. The cavalry dealt the initial blow that caused massive disruption amongst their ranks. Many of them did survive this cavalry strike, but they were still winded and injured. Too slow to react to the infantry that followed soon after, unable to defend themselves properly meant that they were easy pickings.

As a result, they just smashed through them continuously.

With every Lannister killed, the morale of the Stark army skyrocketed while the morale of the opposition just continued to plummet. It was when the Vale made their move that things seemed to change and before Robb knew it, they had broken through the Lannister army.

His sight glanced back and his eyes momentarily widened as he saw the Stark banner they had raised. 'So, they've declared for me.' He deduced, he and his men army continuing to charge across the field towards the retreating Lannister reserves. 'Is it because I'm winning or did the always plan to aid me? If so, why did they not send a messenger?'

Putting it out of his mind for now, Robb turned to Ser Brynden and Lord Piper who were following close behind him on either side. He made sure that each made eye contact with him before indicating with his head to break off.

They did so, Lord Piper and Ser Brynden taking command of half the army each, breaking off left and right and curving back around to strike the rear of the Lannister flanks just as the Vale cavalry struck the remnants of the Lannister centre that had attempted to stop them. This three-way pincer manoeuvre resulted in only one outcome, a slaughter.

Without a proper commander to lead them, Ser Addam and Kevan attempted to try and stop both armies that were attacking them from three directions. And considering that many hundreds were already fleeing the field in order save their own lives. This had a ripple effect upon the entire army, the moment one person began to flee in fear, their comrades followed. Addam and Kevan could do nothing to properly defend and in a single moment, the entire army was routed.

On the eighth day of the Battle of the Bloody Antlers, Robb Stark with the aid of the Vale, scored a decisive victory that destroyed the Lannisters once and for all.


Riding urgently rode down the Kingsroad, over two hundred mounted knights following after him. And as they did, they came upon the sight of a battle taking place. It was shocking for sure, Robb hesitant to engage as he questioned as to what exactly he was seeing. Initially he had thought that the Vale commander had snuck some forces down the Kingsroad, out of sight of them all in order to ambush any retreating Lannister forces.

But as he looked at those fighting closer, he realised that was not the case. He was watching as men clad in red and gold armour, clashed against those in purely gold armour.

"The Golden Company?" Garlan questioned in shock, unsure of what exactly he was seeing, much like everyone else. "Have they joined us?"

Robb remained silent, questioning the same thing himself. It did make sense in a way, the Golden Company realised they had lost and while he knew that their loses in these eight days of fighting were minimal, less than a thousand in total, were attempting to recoup their losses by joining the winning side.

"It does not matter, the Lannisters are our enemy and if the Golden Company wish to taste out wrath also, then all that will await them is death!" Urging his horse on once more, Robb led his men towards the battle once more.

His cavalry charged into the mess of men below, some of them, both from the Lannisters and Golden Company turned towards them. They couldn't do much however as the mounted knights of the Stark army cut through whatever defence they tried to put up. And the answer as to where the loyalties of the Golden Company lay was left unanswered. They were neither for the Lannisters nor him, so the question remained, where did their loyalties lie?

Either way, it was taken completely out of his mind when a Lannister spearman, came up and pierced his weapon into the side of his horse. Robb let out a cry of shock, scrambling to get out of his saddle just in time as he rolled along the ground, avoiding being crushed by his dead mount.

Even so, he came under attack almost instantly and parried one sword strike down, swinging his blade back up and cutting deeply into the neck of the Golden Company warrior that attempted to kill him. He then spun round seeing a spear swinging that had been made to either cut into his face or stumble him. This failed as Robb stepped in and raised his free hand up to cover his face, the wooden pole bouncing off his forearm harmlessly.

Thrusting forwards, his sword pierced into his stomach and then kicked the man away.

Just as another two Lannister soldiers came up, Garlan rode by on his horse and cut through them with ease. "Form up around the King!" He shouted, Robb seeing Ser Emmon Cuy, Robar Royce, Lucas Blackwood, Perwyn Frey, Daryn Hornwood and a few other men form up around him. They acting as a buffer that surrounded him protectively, stopping any Golden Company or Lannister soldier from getting close to him.

As he did, he took a look round, analysing the situation for what it was. Their arrival had changed the once relatively equal battle into a slaughter. His cavalry were running rampant, sowing chaos throughout the battle. The Lannisters and Golden Company were not only having to fight one another, but them as well.

So far, things were looking good for them.

The Golden Company had no clear command of any part of the battle which did not bode well for them, they had the numbers for sure, but they were not dominating any flank or the centre. Robb knew that the left flank and centre were firmly under their command and while there was still fighting, things looked to going well for them. On the other hand, the right flank was the worrying problem.

He didn't know what was going on over there, but it was worrying. If the right flank was still held by the Lannisters then there was a possibility that they could slip away.

"We're cutting through to the right flank!" Robb ordered, pushing past Ser Robar and charging into the battle once more, those that had formed up around the King following after him soon after. They made short work of them, Robb having picked a path that seemed to have naturally formed amongst them and those in the way were too busy fighting one another to turn to them.

And as they burst out, Robb quickly took another look round and he cursed upon what he saw. 'Fuck, so the Mountain's here!' He frowned upon seeing this having hoped that he would be in the main force.

Yet that didn't seem to be the case as he was seeing Ser Gregor cut through men with ease. He hadn't seen the man fight before, only heard tales of what he could do, but seeing was different. The man was big, bigger than even Smalljon and despite that, the man was deceptively strong. His blade swung round with speed and strength that just shouldn't be possibly. But above all else, he was skilled.

Despite Robb's initial belief, the man wasn't just a brute with no skill, he was in fact very skilled. The way in which he swung his blade, manoeuvred his body around suggested that he had the skill to match his strength.

That alone was a worrying thought and Robb was beginning to realise that he had vastly underestimated the Mountain and the impact he had on the Lannister's around him. He was a figurehead for his strength and power, a figurehead that inspired men to fight harder and stronger. It was upon seeing the Mountain in action for the first time that Robb began to understand why Edmure lost so many men in the initial battle in the Stony Septs.

But Robb's eyes then trailed towards the man a little further away from the Mountain.

The Golden Company had done a good job and had separated the Mountain from the Old Lion who was surrounded only by a few men in total. Which was good news for him.

Pushing forwards, flanked by Robar and Emmon, he cut his way towards the Old Lion. Both men rushed forwards in front of Robb who clashed their swords against the two in directly in front of him, pushing them to one side leaving it open for him to burst inside the loose circle that had formed up around the Old Lion. The man had just finished stabbing one Northmen that had broken through the defensive ranks surrounding him.

Tywin barely managed to raise his blade up in time to block the downward swing and even then, the strength of Robb proves too much for Tywin and knocks him to his knees. Robb didn't let up and came back down with another swing that the Old Lion scrambled to avoid.

As his blade dug into the ground of where Tywin once was, another Lannister soldier who recognised Tywin's predicament rushed to try and stop Robb, but a quick number of parries kept him safe and sound for a while. Then, as an opening formed, Robb pounced upon this and cut through the man.

Turning back, he noticed Tywin running away and he cursed about to give chase only for his instincts to scream at him. It was a chill that descended upon him, a shiver running up his spine and a feeling of death hanging over him. He didn't really know where these instincts came from, they had never been prevalent when he was younger. Maybe it was war and constant battle that had honed them, he didn't know, he just knew that they had saved his life on a number of occasions.

Quickly he spun round, raising his sword parallel to the ground and gripped it in both hands. But even he was unprepared for the weight behind the blow and Robb found himself forced to his knees much like Tywin had been previously, and the sword he was trying to block, dug into his shoulder.

He cried out in pain, gritting his teeth and glaring up at the knight who had done this.

Ser Gregor Clegane.

Robb thought he had gained a true understanding of just how terrifying the men known as the Mountain was, but up close and personal, that image was ruined. The tales of the man did not do him justice, seeing the man from a distance did not do him justice, but being on the receiving end of the Mountains strength was another thing entirely.

He tried pushing up with his strength, trying to remove the blade stuck in his shoulder but this action only seemed to amuse the Mountain further. And just when he thought he had withstood the strength of the Mountain, Ser Gregor pressed down further.

The blade in his shoulder dug deeper and Robb eventually in an attempt to save his shoulder from being completely destroyed, just dropped to the ground.

It worked; Ser Gregor suddenly faced without a lack of resistance stumbled.

Robb used this to his advantage, gripping the Ser Gregor's blade with one hand, yanked it out before rolling across the ground, away from the Mountain. From there, he scrambled to his knees only to find himself being covered in shadow. He didn't even need to look up to know what was happening, the large sabatons appeared in view.

Without any ounce of hesitation, Robb began rolling and crawling across the ground, the pain in his shoulder meant nothing to the fear of death that gripped hold of his body tightly. Adrenaline pumped through his body and he avoided every swing of Ser Gregor's blade as best as he could. He managed to do so, just long enough for reinforcements to arrive and help Robb.

Ser Emmon Cuy charged forwards bravely, his blade cutting through the air and striking against the Mountain's back. It was more of a reflexive movement than anything else, but the Mountain stumbled forwards, Robb rolling away to avoid getting his head stepped on.

At his side, Robar and Patrek Mallister crouched down, helping Robb to his feet while Emmon stood in front of them bravely. "Your grace, we need to get you out of here!" Patrek demanded, but Robb shrugged him off, getting to his feet and gripping his blade tightly in one hand. It was heavy, but Robb ignored it and the dull ache in his shoulder.

"Not yet, Tywin Lannister has already escaped. We cannot allow the Mountain to do the same." Robb ordered. "We take him alive if we can!"

Both Robar and Patrek looked to one another, before affirming themselves and gripping their blades. "Then at least get behind us, your grace. Your life is more valuable than ours." Robar argued and Robb conceded, shuffling backwards behind the two.

Ser Gregor turned to them, a low growl escaping his lips, amplified by the sound reverberating in his helmet. The fog of his breath escaping through the holes in mouth only made it more ominous and all four men gripped their blades anxiously before glaring at the Mountain in determination.

All four men rushed forwards across the ground and then the Mountain moved.

The speed in which he moved shouldn't be possible for a man that size and the ease in which he swung his blade beggared belief.

Ser Emmon Cuy was unfortunately was the first to go.

It was a quick action showing that the Mountain wasn't just a brute, but a skilled warrior. He parried Emmon's first blow, the strength throwing his weapon into the air and leaving him exposed. There a single slash swung down, cutting through Ser Emmon's breastplate and killing the knight. Ser Robar and Patrek came next, rushing in and they did well, holding Ser Gregor off for some time, Robb standing back to recover his breath.

The two held him off for some time, Robb studying the movements, trying to learn how the Mountain parried, how he blocked, how he moved and how he attacked. It was in that moment that Ser Patrek overextended on a strike and Gregor capitalised. Luckily Patrek managed to move his body just enough that he was left with only a deep cut on his side.

Upon seeing this Robar moved back and stood beside Robb, both looking at the Patrek grunting and groaning in pain while Gregor looked to them. There was number of nicks in his armour from where Robar and Patrek had managed to land a few blows.

This time it was Gregor came to them and he struck, Robar moved forwards, standing protectively in front of Robb and in a few quick blows was struck. The only thing that saved him from certain death was him just barely being able to manoeuvre his blade in the way of the strike. Even, his blade snapped and Gregor's strike continued round to strike his armour.

Robar collapsed onto the ground, leaving Robb to face the Mountain himself and he didn't do well.

His injured shoulder made it all but impossible to actually block Ser Gregor's blows and while he managed to avoid the vast majority by a hair's breadth. Those that he couldn't he attempted to parry and each time he did, he was sent stumbling backwards.

A galloping horse closing in drew both men's attention, both turning to see Dacey riding towards them. The Mountain turned and swung his blade round, cutting deeply into the horse's neck and ending it falling to the floor, Dacey scrambling to her feet quickly. As she did, she instantly rushed to engage the Mountain, her weapons actually managed to do catch off him off-guard. He stumbled away with the blows and the growls that escaped his throat as his anger grew.

Robb took this moment with panting breaths to study the battle around him. Already the left flank had capitulated and while the Golden Company still held on, resisting the Stark army as well as they could, the Lannisters were running.

Robb didn't know what the Golden Company were up to, but whatever they were fighting for was definitely something important to them, something worth dying for. 'Is it gold?' He wondered, but then that raised the question as to who was paying them. It was definitely not the Lannister's like first believed, which meant that someone else was lining their pockets.

Robb had hoped that with the Lannisters defeat that the war in the south would come to an end. But if the Golden Company was anything to go by, that wasn't a possibility.

Hearing a horn, he turned to see a detachment of Valemen also riding down towards him and at the front of them, was a man clad in a helmet with horns sticking out the side and a war hammer clutched in one hand. For a moment, Robb thought he was looking at Robert Baratheon made young again.

And as the Vale entered the battle, much like before, the battle came to an end.

So here we are, the final day of the battle, not too happy about it ended but by that point I was just so tired of writing a chapter of constant battle that I just had to wrap it up. Either way, I think I've done a pretty decent chapter and my favourite part was writing when Robb rallied the army. Really hope that you all enjoyed what I've done. As for Eddard, the reason he and the Vale didn't arrive sooner will be answered next chapter.

So, let's take a look at army compositions.

Robb's Army (Total – 140,500 men).

- Battle of the Antlers (King Robb Stark) – 15,000 men.

- Vale Reinforcements (Lord Eddard Stark) – 38,000 men.

- Manders Army (Lord Mace Tyrell) – 40,000 men.

- Siege of Casterly Rock (Lord Randall Tarly) – 23,000 men.

- Siege of Flint's Finger (Lord Karyl Vance) – 2,000 men.

- Moat Cailin Army (Lord Jason Mallister) – 2,500 men.

- Siege of Castle Cerwyn (Lord Jonos Bracken) – 4,000 men.

- Mormont's Keep Army (Castellan Alysene Mormont) – 5,000 men.

- Karhold Army (Lord Jon Stark) – 5,000 men.

- Northern Reinforcements (N/A) – 6,000 men.

Tywin's Army (Total – 22,000 men).

- Antlers Army (Lord Tywin Lannister) – 20,000 men.

- ~Golden Company Reinforcements (N/A) – 2,000 men.

Dornish Army (Total – 20,000 men).

- Princes Pass Army (Prince Oberyn Martell) – 20,000 men.

Stannis' Army (Total – 20,000 men).

- Wall Army (King Stannis Baratheon) – 20,000 men.

Ramsey's Army (Total – 6,000 men).

- Winterfell Army (Lord Ramsey Bolton) – 4,000 men.

- Dreadfort Army (N/A) – 2,000 men.

Balon's Army (Total – 6,500 men).

- Ironrath Army (N/A) - 1,000 men.

- Torrhen's Square Army (Victarion Greyjoy) - 5,000 men.

- Stony Shores Army (Asha Greyjoy) - 500 men.

Mance Ryder's Army (Total - N/A).

- Beyond the Wall Army (King Mance Ryder) – N/A.

And now onto the questions:

Guest: So here we are, Eddard was with the Vale and the reason as to why he took so long to arrive will be answered next chapter hopefully.

CleanCavart: Eddard's escape and everything will be explained later on, next chapter hopefully, but there's a reason he's taken so long to arrive.

Tfranco9: Oh don't worry, I'm not making Dany mad or the villain. I'm going to make her much more like her book counterpart at this point in time, but she won't be the villain or mad like Dumb and Dumber made her.

Anyway hope you enjoyed and if you have any questions please let me know. Just a repeat, Eddard's appearance and why he hasn't appeared before now will be explained next chapter hopefully.