Chapter 377

SANSA STARK POV

She stood on the battlements and watched the men doing some last minute preparations as the Lannister army approached from the distance.

"There are… a lot of them." She said. Kings Landing had half a million people and the roads there were always crowded with the smallfolk but this was the first time she was seeing an actual army coming toward her.

"Some 18,000." Ser Barristan Selmy replied "The army numbered 28,000 when it left the Trident. Since then about 5,000 men either died or deserted the army while two days ago, Lord Bolton trapped their entire cavalry and killed all of them. A bit ruthless in my opinion but highly pragmatic."

"You think the Lannisters will be able to take the Castle?" she asked.

"Doubtful." Ser Barristan Selmy replied "This Castle is on top of a hill, has very high walls and great fortifications. On top of that, Lord Bolton has the most disciplined and best trained infantry and archer division in the entire Westeros. Lord Tywin would have to bring an army 5 times his current size to take the Castle. Even then I would not be so sure thanks to the Wyverns and the wildfire as well as the giants who wear the impenetrable armor."

She felt some of the tension in her heart drain away upon hearing that but the sight of the army coming toward her still filled her with a primal fear.

"I don't see Lord Bolton anywhere." She said as she looked around the walls for him "Will he not participate in this battle."

"Unlikely." Ser Barristan said "In all the 4 significant battles that the Bolton army has fought, Lord Bolton has led from the front in all those battles. If he does not participate in this battle, then it would mean that he truly does not consider the castle to be in any danger."

She watched in silence as the men ran around in the walls and filled the buckets with arrows and bolt magazines to be used by the archers and crossbowmen.

She didn't understand much about battles but if Ser Barristan was not worried then perhaps she should not be worried either.

At that moment she heard a commotion from behind and turned around to see Lord Bolton walking out of the castle followed him his trusted sworn guards Varko the Valient and Baka the Giantess along with Ygritte. The girl that Lord Bolton loved.

Her heart ached when she saw Lord Bolton kiss Ygritte one last time before they both wore their own helmets and went to their separate positions.

She could see the men gain confidence at the mere presence of Lord Bolton. As if his mere presence made it a fact that the Lannister army will fail in their endeavor.

She supposed that winning four unwinnable battles, would make anyone place their faith on their commander.

"My lady. Perhaps you should go back to the Castle." Ser Barristan said "It is unlikely that the Lannister men will breach the castle but you can still be hurt by a stray arrow."

She wanted to stay and watch the battle but knew that Ser Barristan was right.

So with a nod she left the wall, her new handmaiden and two Bolton guards following a few steps behind her.

An hour after that, the Lannister army put the castle under siege.