Chapter 169

ROB STARK POV

130 MILES NORTH OF THE WALL

2 weeks later.

Robb was waken out of his sleep at night by the continuous sniffing of his direwolf.

"Midnight." He grumbled and pushed his direwolf away. "What is it?" he asked his direwolf who started roaming around in the small tent looking jittery and anxious.

"Jon." He started but noticed that Jon was already awake and both him and his direwolf were looking in the distance intently.

"Jon. What is it?" he asked slowly but before Jon could reply they heard a shouting and yells from the distance along with the sound of steel clashing against steel.

They both looked at each other and then there was a shout from outside.

"Wake up you bastards. We're being ATTACKED! GET UP!"

In a flurry of motion, both of them reached for their weapons and went out of the tent to look at the situation outside, fearing the worst.

Thankfully, whoever had attacked them had not really succeeded as they had not even penetrated the outer parameter of the camp.

"That's… Lord Bolton's camp isn't it." Jon asked, his eyes wide awake as he hurriedly wore his leather gambeson while both Ser Rodrick Cassel and their Uncle Benjen Stark rallied their men, making him realize that he should have been the one rallying them instead.

Well, there was a reason why they were the veteran and he was the inexperienced lad who had been told to give command to them if something went wrong.

But he would never amount to much if he didn't act pro actively.

"To me. MEN! TO ME!" he shouted.

"TO ROBB STARK!!!" Jon shouted even more loudly than him and even among the darkness, he was glad for Jon's presence as well as Midnight and Snowric who both stood quietly and on guard around them, searching for any attacker in the darkness who might have slipped through.

Truly, the day he got Midnight was the best day of his entire life.

Soon a large amount men gathered around him and even his uncle Benjen and Ser Rodrick Cassel brought the rest of the Stark men to deal with whoever had dared attack them.

In the distance he could still hear the sounds of swords clashing, people roaring battle cries and people crying in pain as they died. Around him, he could hear the Umbers and Night's Watch commanders gather their men as well.

It was all too much to take for someone like him who had never seen a true battle.

Suddenly there was a warmth on his right side and he noticed Midnight rubbing his dark fur on his leg. And as if a fog had been lifted from his brain, everything suddenly became much more clearer and he was able to get a better read of the situation.

"What should we do Robb?" His Uncle asked, his own posture looking much more confident and unconcerned.

He wondered if it was because of years of experience in similar situations or if his uncle had already got the read of the situation and decided that they were safe enough.

"We don't know the number of the enemies or if they will only attack from one side." He said, making his voice as loud as possible for his men to hear "Uncle Benjen, you'll take half our men and guard our rear in case this is an ambush and protect us from anyone trying to sneak up on us."

His uncle nodded in silence and he continued "The other half with me. We'll read the situation first and then assist Lord Bolton if he needs our help. Or guard his flank if he doesn't. LET'S GO!"

With that, they raised their swords and went in the direction where the sound of fighting had already slowed down a little.

He hoped that Lord Bolton was alright.

He would never be able to forgive himself if he failed to protect his idol when he could have done so.