62 Lightning lord

Lightning lord

Beric POV

I watched as a mass of smallfolk marched to the east. King Stannis had to force villages and towns to leave for the Crownlands and King's Landing. Even if he took all their food and resources, he led them to leave uncontested. I didn't know why he did so. He could have just left them be and moved on. It is not like we lack resources.

Was it to trick the Tyrrells and the Lannisters? Make them think that we are struggling. Or was it to get in the good graces of the smallfolk? The King would personally tell the villagers to leave and seek refuge, telling them he had to take their homes as it was wartime, but he didn't need their lives. I heard a few whispers calling Stannis the merciful King.

With Davos, it was easier to talk with Stannis. I greatly respect him, but approaching him and questioning his actions was hard. His stubborn and cold face didn't let me intercept any meaning behind his actions. It didn't help that he didn't drink or celebrate with the rest of the men. Most of the time, he would be alone or with the Red Priestess.

"Lord Beric," My faithful squire came after me as I made rounds around the camp. "King Stannis has called for you."

"Let's go, Ned," I quickly walked to the King's tent, not wanting him to wait.

We were busy building camps and digging ourselves outside Lannisport after the battle of Golden Tooth. Garlan Tyrell managed to retreat to Lannisport when we gained an advantage in the battle. It irked most of us, as using the hill terrain at Golden Tooth, we could rain arrows on their back lines while our cavalry struck them faster and heavier.

When a small force sneaked behind Garlan Tyrell using the goat tracks that lord Edmure mentioned, we pushed their forces back quite well, even with a smaller army. For every man we lost, Garlan Tyrell lost at least four. With our uncontested victory, the Reach army had to retreat and hide in Lannisport.

"You here, lord Dondarrion," King Stannis glanced at me and motioned me to sit down. "I will be brief. You must take seven thousand cavalries and ride to support lord Tully."

"Seven thousand. Have you not offered him ten thousand?" I asked.

"I can't spare ten thousand," King Stannis said. "Garlan Tyrell still has about thirty thousand men in Lannisport. It will take at least twenty thousand to hold him in the city."

"That still leaves us about fifteen thousand," I said.

"Of those fifteen, you will take seven. The other eight will be used differently, like blocking Goldroad and securing other keeps and castles."

"Very well, when do I leave?" I asked.

"Tomorrow, the seven thousand are from the Stormlands, so you won't have trouble commanding them."

That was all he had to say before he dismissed me. I received his command and returned to my tent. I told Ned to inform the knights and lords that would ride with me back to the Riverlands. I knew that we had to hurry. There won't be time to rest on the way. We didn't know anything that had happened in the Riverlands after we left, but the worst to come, we had to secure Riverrun.

…

For days we rode and only rested when our horses needed to rest. As we passed through villages, I heard many rumors about the battle of Ruby Ford. Some say it was drenched red from all the blood, and no one survived. Would it be lord Tully or lord Tarly that won? Nobody knew. Others would claim that lord Tully was already dead, or others way that lord Tarly was dead.

I was sure the battle had not ended, as rumors didn't stop spreading, but I was anxious. It would take days before we arrived, and I worried about lord Tully. He was a young man with little experience and ready to prove himself. I was worried that because King Stannis didn't send any reinforcements after the battle of Golden Tooth, lord Tully would suffer a defeat.

"We will rest here for tonight," We managed to arrive at a fishermen's village just before the night. "Let the horses drink from the river and set up a camp."

"My lord, with the pace we are going, we will be too worn out to fight," A knight complained.

"We have no other choice. We must be fast as lightning," I said.

I ignored the complaints and set up a tent to rest for the night. Once the sun rose, we would be riding once again. I couldn't be too late. Losing lord Tully would be a big blow to us. After all, a Stark will inherit Riverrun if something happens to lord Tully. I knew very well the king's feelings for usurpers.

The last thing I wanted was for the war to prolong. The lands were already riddled with shallow graves, and so far, we had only fought against the Lannisters. There was still Dorne to worry about, as most of the marcher lords were away from home. They would be easy picking for the Martells. These thoughts brought me to my wife-to-be, if Dorne decided to attack, what should I do with Ned?

"My lord, you should rest," Ned came to me with dinner.

"I will. Do not worry," I replied.

"We have been riding for nine days already. Our horses and men are exhausted," Ned said.

"We will have to endure it for nine more days at least," I replied.

It would take several weeks to reach Ruby Ford. Good thing we were blessed with good weather so far, and the road was firm. I feared that autumn storms might soon hit us and flood the rivers. Then it will make it much harder for us to travel anywhere in the Riverlands. We could not take it easy, no matter what.

…

When we arrived at Riverrun, I ordered my men to rest for the day. I went inside to seek an audience with the maester. Vyman quickly told me what he knew of the battle at Ruby Ford. As far as he knew, the battle had not ended. Lord Tully still held it, using iron spikes along the riverbank, hiding caltrops in the water, and building fences. He made Ruby Ford a fortress.

"I have to apologize, but we only have a couple of hundreds of horses for your men to change," Ser Desmond Grell, master-at-arms of the castle, informed me.

"It shall suffice," I replied.

"It will take another four to six days for your cavalry to reach Ruby Ford," Maester Vyman said.

I could tell that they were expecting us to come sooner. I didn't try to make any excuses, as I didn't know what Stannis' whole plan was, but at the time, we couldn't split our forces when we had gained an advantage in numbers. It wouldn't help anyone if Garlan Tyrell managed to turn the tables on us.

"I suggest not to try to strike lord Tarly from behind," Ser Desmond said as he was reading my thoughts. "Plenty of scouts are watching his side of the river. It would be better to get behind lord Edmure and support him without lord Tarly knowing."

"It will take a few more days to do so unnoticed," I replied. "Can lord Tully hold for that long?"

"He held Ruby Ford for this long," Ser Desmond said. "He will hold it until his dying breath. You should not underestimate lord Edmure, as I am sure lord Tarly has already learned that."

He said it without hesitation. I was keen to suspect he fully believed his lord. I didn't voice my concerns and agreed to do as he asked. And if what he said about the scouts, and knowing lord Tarly, I wouldn't put behind him in making sure he is not attacked from behind. With the plan made, I went to rest.

…

"My lord, a rider is nearing us," I had to stop as one of my scouts approached me. "He is bearing Tully banners."

It seemed we had arrived, even though my men and our horses were exhausted. Still, we came and could only hope we arrived on time. Even when my men complained, I ignored them and forced them to ride as fast as possible. And seeing a rider meet us, I let out a sigh of relief as it seemed we were still in time.

"Lord?" The rider asked.

"Beric Dondarrion," I introduced myself.

"Lord Beric," The man didn't seem impressed. "Lord Edmure has been waiting, led me to lead the way."

We followed the river and soon reached the main camp of lord Tully. I saw men were carried away while they cried in pain. Tents were filled with injured men, and some were threatening their injuries on the ground as there wasn't a place for them in tents. Camp followers were running around carrying hot water and wood for fires.

"Tell the archers to concentrate on the right wing and send more men to the center," Before I could see, I heard lord Tully yelling orders.

I saw the battle beneath us when I rode up the Ruby Ford. Thousands of men were defending the river bank, the bodies laid on the ground or carried by the river's stream. I heard of Lord Tully's defenses but was shocked to see dead bodies and rocks piled up to make a wall. When I turned to lord Tully, I was again surprised to see his appearance.

Lord Edmure Tully wore torn armor, with bents and scratches all around. While he gave orders, someone was bandaging his arm. When he turned to me, I saw the black line beneath his eyes and pale face. He looked way beyond being exhausted. Yet, even then, he was focused on the battlefield.

"Lord Tully, King Stannis has sent me," Before I could finish my words, lord Tully interrupted me.

"How many men?"

"Seven thousand," I answered.

"Three thousand less than was promised," Lord Tully commended. "Send all the reserves, and don't let them push us further."

Lord Tully quickly dismissed me and went to survey the battlefield. I ordered my men to set up their camp as the day was beginning to end. I watched as the rest of the fighting went on for the day. I wanted to suggest sending us to the battlefield, but lord Tully didn't seem interested for now.

"They are retreating," Someone yelled out, and soon everyone noticed that lord Tarly had ordered a retreat for today.

"Shouldn't we pursue?" I asked.

"You were watching, but it seems you didn't notice," Lord Tully said. "Look at us."

I did as I was told, and only now did I notice how the Riverlanders could barely walk out of the battlefield. The injured were dragged back to the camp, and the rest limped or fell to the ground, unable to stand up from exhaustion. Those who still could move carried dead bodies and threw them into piles with rocks to create a wall.

"Are you not afraid of the pale mare?" I asked.

"It is already too late to worry about it," Lord Tully said. "Look at the river. The bodies will spread through all of the Riverlands. I have already ordered towns and villages to be careful. Here we have other things to worry about."

"Should we discuss the strategy?" I asked.

"Make sure your men rest for tonight, for they won't have a chance to do so again," Lord Tully said. "Lord Mallister will inform you of anything you need."

"Even so, we need a plan for tomorrow," I said.

"Our plan for tomorrow is the same as it was yesterday or the day before yesterday," Lord Tully looked at me with cold blue eyes. "We will defend this Ford until we die."

"Now you have us, we can…."

"You are too late," Lord Mallister interrupted me. "Lord Tarly had set their camp and defenses. He will not be struck from behind or the sides. He made damn sure of it."

"We still are outnumbered, and most of my men are farmers, boys, or old men," Lord Tully said. "Even if defenses and the higher ground, we barely can defend against him. His men are better armored and armed, better trained, and have more experience. Not to offend you and your men, lord Dondarrion, but you will fill up our reserves and do nothing more because you can't do anything more."

Before I could refute his words, I saw lord Tully fall to the ground. Lord Mallister sighed and ordered some men to bring him to a tent so he could rest. Ultimately, I ordered my men to rest and walked around the camp before surveying the enemy camp. From little I could see, it seemed that it would be hard to attack them.

"Don't take Edmure's words to heart," I barely could recognize ser Patrek Mallister.

"How so?"

"To defend the Ford, he had to send smallfolk who never held a sword in their entire lives," Patrek said. "To say that Edmure is in a foul mood and ridden with guilt would be a massive understatement. Even if he didn't show it, he is glad you came. Now he can throw you, bastards, to your deaths."

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852