229 AC
WESTERLANDS
CASTERLY ROCK
ROBB STARK
The days were long, and they could only rest for short periods of time. They marched through the day and long into the night. Often, Robb was so tired, his legs had felt like jelly. But he knows that they can't afford to slow down, speed is there main advantage. He have already heard scout reports that Ser Daven Lannister, son of Ser Stafford Lannister, is raising another host at Casterly Rock, comprised mostly of children and old men, no doubt to fortify Lannisport and Casterly for an comming attack.
Robb could tell that many of his lords were still unsure about his plan to take the Rock, and the long night marches is only further annoying them. So far they were silent about it out of respect and fear for him.
It seems that out of all his forces, only Grey Wind seemed to be in a good mood. Robb had told the direwolf to race ahead and take out any Lannister scouts. Grey Wind was more than up for the task and often returned to Robb with his mouth stained red and an overall pleased look about him.
At last, after a week of hard marching they reached a spot two leagues away from Casterly Rock. Robb was pleased to see that the closer they got to the ancient stronghold of House Lannister, the stronger the men seemed to become. The sun was setting fast, and the ravens they had used to converse with the Mallister ships indicated that everything was in place. The only thing left is time.
It had taken three days for the small Mallister fleet from Seagard to arrive at the western coast near Crag, where Robb had divided his army. More than 6,000 men under his uncle Benjen boarded the ships. There goal is to attack Lannisport by sea while Robb and his remaining forces attack Casterly Rock by Land.
All warfare is based on deception, it was a tactic, which Robb had used multiple times. At the Battle Of Whispering Woods where he deceived both Tywin Lannister and Jaime, and at the Golden Tooth where he used a diversionary force to destroy Stafford Lannister's army at Oxcross and then at Ashemark where he deceived the defenders with a fall sense of security before attacking with full force at night, taking the city by surprise.
And now he is going to use it again. He had divided his army again. His uncle Benjen and his 6,000 men are going to attack Lannisport by sea with the help of the Mallister ships. And surely seeing the attack at their port the defenders of Casterly Rock will rush out to help their outnumbered brethren because they knew that if the port city is taken their only supply of food will be cut off and they will starve to death.
And that is when Robb and his army will pounce on the open gates of the Rock.
It is a risky plan one which involve perfect timing and precision. Robb knows that if he fails he is never going to get another chance because if the door of Casterly Rock closes it will never open again.
Now he is taking a final stroll around his camp, praising his soldiers and mentally preparing for the battle to come. His wanderings took him to the only prisoner pen, where Jaime Lannister was locked up. The Kingslayer is the only prisoner Robb had kept with him in his camp the rest were either executed or in the dungeons of Golden Tooth and Riverrun.
He quietly entered the pen but the Kingslayer's sharp eyes immediately shot up as he looked at the boy who had captured him.
"Ah, the King In The North. I so thank you for returning me to my home. No need to trouble yourself any further, I can take it from here, thanks."
Robb smiled. "You know where we are, Kingslayer. You know what is about to happen, so I'll be brief. I am going to make you watch as I take your home from you."
Jaime shot a smirk right back. "I wish you luck. The Rock has never been taken. And I don't think you have the men to even try. You're walking into a slaughter."
"That's what you and your father thought when I raced to capture you at Riverrun, or when I took the Golden Tooth and Ashemark" He said looking the Oathbreaker in the eye "And now the entire Westerlands lies at my knees, and with Casterly Rock it will be at my heel".
Jaime shrugged. "You got lucky and won a few battles. My father isn't a fool to fall for the same trick twice. You think he's just left his home undefended?"
Robb shook his head. "Your father is on the other side of Westeros, trying to keep your bastard son's arse on the Iron Throne. He can't help you now. A lesson for you Lannisters: Winter has come for you."
At that, Robb turned to leave, but Jaime called out, "You aren't a conqueror, boy! You're just a child a long way from home. If you ever want to see it again, you'll leave now while you still can!" The chains binding Jaime rattled as he strained against them, but Robb ignored his taunts and rattling as he stepped back.
Robb looked at the guard on duty, Ser Marq Piper, who was still slightly sore from the Ashemark and would serve better as a guard for this battle than fighting. "When we take the Rock, I want you to take command of the Kingslayer and have him watch our victory."
Ser Marq bowed. "Of course, Your Grace. It would be an honor."
Returning to his tent, Robb had his squire, Olyvar Frey, armor him up for the coming battle. Robb couldn't help but feel a little excited, because he knows that if he successfully captures the Rock his name would forever be immortalised in history. While Robb isn't someone who fights or seeks for glory, it would still be a military achievement worthy of songs, greater than even the Battle Of The Trident or Battle Of Redgrass Field.
But despite his confidence in his plan, and excitement of the coming battle Robb couldn't help but fell a little apprehension. It wasn't fear, no, he wasn't afraid of dying but the feeling of doubt still lingered in back of his mind.
"Stop it" he chided himself "you're just letting the Kingslayer's words get to you".
Before he saddled up, Robb caught sight of his lover Dacey who had a solemn expression on her face. He approached her.
"Bear" He said softly looking at her with loving eyes.
"Wolf" She murmured in return.
"Don't fear my love we will prevail" He said before leaning towards her "And tonight we will make love in lord Tywin's personal chambers" He said seductively causing her to blush prettily, as if she was still a maiden.
"I hope so" She said with a shaky smile before Robb leaned forward and pressed a firm kiss on her mouth, savoring her taste.
He then turned towards his horse and jumped into his saddle. Taking a deep breath and headed out on his mount in the front of his army Grey Wind right beside him. He turned to his men and took deep breathe, before taking his sword out of his scabbard and raising it into the air.
"For Winterfell!For Riverrun! For the North and the Trident!" he shouted as the men marched behind him, taking up the call.
When they reached their destination, it was the dead of night. They could make out Casterly Rock's features emblazoned in black against the night sky. Up close, Robb could see why the Rock had never been taken. It looked like it was nearly two leagues long and seemed higher than the Wall. "This castle is even larger than Winterfell or Riverrun put together" he thought in a silent awe. As they stopped behind the largest hill, sheltering their army from any sentries in darkness, Robb could feel the doubt and worry creeping again.
Robb took a deep breath and turned to his forces. "Remember. We do not move until my uncle attacks Lannisport".
The Greatjon spoke louder. "Time to make those shits pay for every time they looked down at everyone else. Make corpses of their men and make them shit with fear! For the North!" The men once again cheered, but quietly subsided. Robb once again pictured his family: his father, his brothers, his sisters. "I do this for my family"
The minutes lengthened. Grey Wind growled impatiently but remained where he was. Robb listened apprehensively. "Come on, come on. Uncle should have gotten there by now" But the castle remained silent...for a long time...until finally...
There was a commotion at the main gates of Casterly Rock. Robb strained his neck to see. The gates were open, and men were racing around, hoisting banners and yelling in the torchlight. The scramble could only mean one thing: Lannisport was under attack. Robb listened in the distance. Indeed, there did seem to be increased noise coming from the direction of Lannisport, which meant that his Uncle Benjen had engaged the port city.
"Men! To arms!" shouted Robb. The soldiers of the Rock were starting to spill out. "Winterfell!" yelled the Young Wolf. Grey Wind sprinted forward, leading the charge as the armies of the North fell upon the garrison of Casterly Rock. Robb rode over the hill, Grey Wind at his side, closing the distance between his army and the Lannisters'...five hundred feet...three hundred...a hundred...
And then the world fell into pandemonium.
Robb swung his sword at everything in his path. Grey Wind was impossible to keep track of; the direwolf would be biting the neck of one soldier one instant and would be nipping the heels of another on the other side of the formation the next. Beside Robb, the Greatjon was swinging his greatsword, bellowing obscenities and slashing at every Lannister soldier in his path.
"Fuck the Lannisters! For the North!" roared the Greatjon.
On Robb's right, his personal battle guard were fighting more controlled, but just as viciously as the Greatjon. The other lords of the North fought with vigor, each desperate to make their mark on the Lannisters' home. Yet it was no longer easy; the garrison had recovered from its shock at the sudden attack of the Northern army and had begun their defense.
"Stand to!" called the archers on the Rock. Arrows were sailing down on their heads, but Robb miraculously remained unscathed. He slew three soldiers across the chest at once and then crossed swords with a better trained man. But Robb was better; he sidestepped, jabbed at the man's wrist, and when he backed up, Robb stabbed him in the stomach.
The Northmen slowly advanced, but even with their success in killing the soldiers, the gate was closing rapidly. There wasn't enough time to get the army inside. The ladders were being propped against the walls, but the garrison was flinging rocks down upon the ascenders. There was little chance of a successful.
He have to do something before the gates closed "Theon ready the Archers" he shouted.
Theon nodded racing in the front of the charging cavalryy while shouting "With me" before he and rest of Northern Horse archers raced forward in front of the army and with extreme precision and skill, which comes through years of training, shot their arrows, while still riding in horseback, into the mass of Lannister men who were trying to close the door.
He grinned a wide grin, Grey Wind howling and barking beside him, the direwolf's legs pumping to keep pace with the horse. "We take The Rock tonight! For the North!"
"For the North!" His riders echoed. "The King in the North! The King in the North!"
"Charge" Robb shouted as he and cavalry charged through the almost closing gate and crashed onto the lannister men.
He saw before him lines of Lannister men. Behind them, the fortress of Casterly Rock opened up beyond the mouth of the cavern. The buildings were painted red and gold and the keep itself rose up behind them, in the far distance.
Amidst the scenery, he saw scores of people running about. Some of the brave soldiers were making formations while others,who had never fought before were fleeing the streets and the coming northern horde as they realised the e battle is lost for them. Which is actually true as the gates of Casterly Rock has fallen.
Still more were men shouting commands, rallying men-at-arms even as they know it was all over for them.
They would need to break through this formation before that happened. Before any sort of organized defense could be mounted in earnest, as it would cause heavy casualties among his men.
Those thoughts were pushed from his head, however, when arrows began flying into his men.
"Shields!" He howled, hefting his own up just as three arrows impacted it and two more clanged off the armor of his warhorse. "Shields! Shields up! Charge!"
His men replied in a wordless shout and with him charged The Greatjon, Smalljon, Hothar Umber, Dacey and Jorelle Mormont, Wendel Manderly and Robin Flint and Eddard and Torrhen Karstark. Arrows pelted them as they reached the men but none made it through the gaps in their armor. If it was luck or some sort of divine intervention he doesn't know.
Robb roared in bloodlust, bringing his sword down on the first man he could reach. The Lannister's head fell from his shoulders and Grey Wind jumped on another one, mauling and biting and tearing and through their enemy.
He yelled again and kicked his horse into motion, rushing toward the second line of Lannister foot. The first line had been broken by their charge. The archers lay beyond another line, the third.
"To me!" He called. "To me! To me! Break their lines! Break them open!"
And so they did, but the men on the ground held this time. He saw Robin Flint's horse go down and his own reared up when a spear struck at its leg.
"Shit," he swore, falling from the saddle as his horse toppled over. His head impacted the ground hard and, immediately, white gathered at the edges of his vision. Above him, Olyver Frey looked down from atop his warhorse, the boy's eyes wide enough that Robb could see the whites of them.
"No!" The Smalljon howled and suddenly, the man's bulk was in front of him, swinging that giant greatsword to and fro. Each cleave spread red throughout the air.
'Blood,' he thought slowly. 'Blood. Blood.'
"You won't have him, you bastards!" The man howled, throwing another man in red against the cavern walls with sheer strength alone. "You'll not get through me! You'll never get through me!"
A head ensconced in red and gold steel landed on the ground near him even as hands gripped his arms. He heard Grey Wind howling and barking and yapping and saw flashes of his fur around The Greatjon's bulk.
And then he was on his feet, leaning back on-
He turned his head.
Leaning back on Olyver. The lad was his squire, his mind recalled. He blinked once, then twice. The sounds of men dying and screaming echoed off the cavern walls and... and...
"Break the lines, son! Break the fucking line!" The voice of Greatjon brought him out of his trance.
"Break the line" His mind screamed. The sounds of battle were muffled to his ears. "Kill them all!"
And it all came back to him in a flood of memories. The assault. The charge. The Lannisters. His ploy to take the castle.
A snarl appeared on his lips and his blood turned to ice. A coldness overtook him and he growled in time with a ferocious snarl loosed from Grey Wind's throat.
One last line of Lannisters stood beyond this one, behind them, the archers loosed arrow after arrow into their ranks.
And just in front of him, lay his price.
"Chargeeee!" He howled, his eyes wide with rage.
He yanked his spare sword free from the scabbard of Olyver Frey's waist and twisted back around to face the Lannisters, snarl still in place on his lips. Blood still frozen in his veins.
"For The North!" He howled, his voice straining under the intensity with which he shouted. Grey Wind let loose a litany of barks and growls next to him.
He charged, barreling through the second line with his shoulder lowered and sprinted at the third.
Arrows flew at him before he reached the Lannisters and one found a gap in his armor but he scarcely felt it. It did not break his stride nor slow him in the slightest, the cold fury coursing through him urged him on. It urged him to draw blood. To cut down the men standing before him.
"For The North!" He shouted again, side stepping the slash of a Lannister man's sword and beheading him in one smooth motion. He turned, swatting aside another sword with his shield even as Grey Wind took another man to the ground beside him.
He used his shield to bash in the face of the man that swung at him and lunged forward, plunging his sword deep in the man behind the first he killed. As that man fell, Robb grabbed his sword from his loose fingers and stuck it into the side of another even as that man tried - too late - to swing across his body at the King in the North.
Grey Wind jumped on another man in red, the direwolf's jaws soaked in blood, even as Robb grabbed the dagger from his side and plunged it into the neck of a retreating man. He took the sword from the dying man's hands and shouldered his way over the last of the Lannisters in the line, clearing them and opening up his way to the archers.
They shot at him more as he charged and two more arrows found their mark, one in his side and the other in his forearm, but they failed to pierce his plate armour.
He stabbed the first man dead before he had a chance to draw his sword. The second as well. Grey Wind appeared in a flash of snarling fangs and flying spittle as he took another to the ground at the King's side.
A sword swung at him but reflexes honed by years of practice and months of war allowed him to present his side to the man, the overhand swing clanging noisily off of his spaulder. He ignored that man and the pain the blunted swing caused his shoulder, instead turning to parry another man's stab, throwing the Lannister's sword to the ground. Robb stabbed the first while he recovered from his botched swing and then the swordless man too. He kicked another Lannister away from him as the man backed away from Grey Wind and seized another by the arm, forcibly tossing him across the cavern with a strength only made possible by his cold fury.
The Lannister archers were panicked now and he reveled in seeing fear in the whites of their eyes.
But he offered them no mercy.
Two men swung at him but his shield intercepted the short swords, breaking to pieces and falling off of his arm in the process. He did not let that stop him either. From the next man he killed, he took a sword with his off hand.
Grey Wind dove at a man on his right so he turned to his left and swatted away another blade with his good hand.
The rest of his army, mainly the infantry surged through the open gates of the Rock and quickly dismantled the rest of the already crumbling Lannister resistance. The Boltons, the Mandery, the Karstarks all stood side by side as they drove their swords and spears into the chests of the Lannisters. The Greatjon and his son, Maege and her daughters Dacey and Jorelld Mormont, Ser Wendel Manderly, they all fought vigorously, and the Lannisters were breaking under the pressure.
Robb turned to his cousin and Theon who where just finishing off a Lannister soldier. " Wulfric, Theon To the battlements!"
Robb, Wulfric, Theon, along with his battleguards and at least a hundred northern men at arms hurried up the steps to take out the archers. On the battlements, Robb led the way and killed every man that was foolish enough to come near him until there was only one man left.
From the way he was dressed, Robb assumed him to be the castellan of the Rock. He had the traditional golden hair and green eyes of the Lannisters, not to mention that he disliked the man the moment he laid eyes on him. Grey Wind bounded up the steps beside him and began to growl.
"Robb Stark, the Northern Scum" snarled the man, readying his sword.
"I'm at a loss, ser. You know who I am, yet I cannot say the same."
"Ser Daven Lannister. I am the Castellan of Casterly Rock. You killed my father at the Battle Of Oxcross, did you remember or have you forgotten that along with every other atrocity you committed in the Westerlands".
Of course, Robb remembered his duel with Ser Stafford and he remember how he took the Lannister Lord's head in one clean swing, but he is not going to give Daven the satisfaction of knowing that.
"Can't say I remember him Ser, you see I have killed many men and I can't bother to waste my precious time to remember all their names" Robb said with a mocking smile causing Daven to bristle in barely contained fury, "But you don't have to suffer the same fate as your father if you surrender the castle without further bloodshed"
"If I surrender to you, Lord Tywin will have my head," retorted Ser Daven.
"Then it seems your fate is sealed. Lord Tywin will have your head and make you perish slowly and painfully. I'll grant you a quick death, an honorable death, with your sword in hand."
Ser Daven narrowed his eyes. Robb knew he was listening to the battle raging in the courtyard and had realized it was lost. At last, he hefted his sword and bellowed, "Casterly Rock!"
Robb ducked his initial swing and stabbed the castellan in his gut with his sword point. The man gave an odd gasp before falling to his knees before him and Robb took the Knight's head off in a single swing of his sword.
The King in the North watched the beheaded corpse for a few moment, before he turned to his men. The sounds of the battle were dying down. "Spread out, make sure there aren't any more men within these walls. Send a rider to Lannisport, I want to know what has happened."
Ser Wendel Manderly grinned as he stepped forward. He had a cut on his cheek and was sweaty from effort, but he looked like he was having the time of his life. "Your Grace, men have arrived with tidings of victory. Our men have triumphed. Lord Benjen and his forces took the men as the Mallisters' ships distracted them from the harbor, just as you predicted. Without the support of the garrison at Casterly Rock, they fell. Lannisport and Casterly Rock are ours!"
Robb felt a grin spread over his face. He walked the battlements and looked at the survivors of the battle, who cheered when they saw him. The battle was over. The Greatjon was there, as was his lover Dacey Mormont who was looking at him with loving eyes, then there was his squire Olyver Frey and the rest of his Battleguard Smalljon Umber , Eddard and Torrhen Karstark, Theon Greyjoy, Wulfric Seastark, and so many others. They were all cheering at their victory. Robb gazed at them and saw that Ser Marq Piper had come to join the celebration. The knight had the Kingslayer chained at his feet and a gag in his mouth. The pure look of loathing in Jaime's eyes made Robb feel giddy. "Winter came for you Lannister".
"The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North!"
The Greatjon took up the chant before looking at Robb. "The Rock is yours, Your Grace."
"Yes, it is". He thought "My father and mother would be proud, as would my sisters and my brothers, I did it for all of you"
"What are your orders now, Your Grace?" asked the Lord Of The Last Hearth.
Robb hadn't given much thought to what he would do once he had Casterly Rock. But when posed with the question, the Young Wolf gave a simple command. "Empty the gold from the vaults."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a summery of how Robb took Casterly Rock.
Stage 1- With most of Westerlands under Robb's control, the food supplies of Casterly Rock through the land were cut of as Robb had set fire to crops and villages and stole there livestock.
Stage 2- With the supplies cut off from the Land, the city of Lannisport became their main source of food supplies, because of the Lannister fleet bringing in food supplies.
Stage 3- With the Northern fleet tied down in the North, the Lannisters expected an attack from the Land. Their strategy is that if the Northern army attack they will be caught in a pincer between the defenders of Lannisport and Casterly.
Stage 4- Robb's attack at Lannisport by sea caught the Lannisters off-guard as they realised their pincer tactic had failed.
But even after that they still made thee most costly mistake of the entire war by riding out of their fortress with their army to help defend their brethren at Lannisport and the moment the gates of Casterly Rock opened the Northern cavalry, which was covered in the darkness of night, pounced on the gates of the open castle and took the Rock by storm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SIEGE OF LANNISPORT & CASTERLY ROCK:-
COMBATANTS:-
House Stark - 21,000 men.
Infantry :- 14,500 men.
Cavalry:- 6,500 men.
VS
House Lannister- 9,000 men (3,000 Red Cloaks of Lannisport City Watch and 6,000 recruits)
Infantry- 9,000 men.
Cavalry- 0.
Result - Major Stark Victory. Casterly Rock and Lannisport captured by Stark forces. Complete subjugation of the Westerlands.
Casualties :-
House Stark- At least a 1,000 dead and wounded (Minor).
House Lannister- Entire Garrison killed with very few men taken as prisoners (Major).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And done!
So Robb has done the impossible. He had taken Casterly Rock and Lannisport.
If you liked this chapter don't forget to leave a comment because always remember reviews are food for writer's soul.