personal6

Chapter 47

High honor, low morals

Robb POV

We hunted the Mountain clans for three weeks, and hundreds of them died at our hands. Yet my anger didn't subside. The images of entire villages burned to nothing, of men, women, elderly, and children laying on the ground. Crows feeding on their flesh, yet there was no knight of the Vale among them.

Great uncle Brynden was great at tracking the clans. With Grey Wind's help, we managed to locate many of their camps. Still, it wasn't enough. The mountains were vast, and even with ten thousand men, we killed no more than a thousand of them. From what great uncle Brynden said, it was a third of their total number.

"We should give up on hunting for more of them," My uncle said to me as I thought about where to go next. "Those who escaped went deep into the mountains, our horses won't be able to follow them, and we will become vulnerable to ambushes."

"It took three weeks to scare most of the Mountain clans," I said. "Why have the Vale knights done nothing? They knew the mountains better than we, yet they have done nothing. So many innocents had to die for nothing."

"Lysa didn't let her knights leave," The Blackfish told me.

"These knights are of the Vale. My aunt isn't," I replied. "We going to the Eyrie."

"Finally, I got tired of these barbarians," Theon commented. "They don't have anything valuable on them."

"We are not going there to fight or rob. You better remember it," The Blackfish reprimanded Theon.

I didn't know about that. My aunt isn't suitable to rule the Vale from what I have seen. If she persists in keeping her power, I will do anything to stop her. Even if it means I have to fight her. I can only hope she listens to the reason.

Maybe she didn't think much of everyone that lived beyond the Bloody Gates. I didn't know if it was worse that way or not. All I knew was that people died when they didn't have to. The Mountain Clans only gained more strength with every attack. Even after killing a third of them, I don't think they will hide for long, especially when winter comes.

When hunger beckons them once more, will the knights of the Vale stand against them and their people? From what I have seen, they will more likely stay in their castles, behind strong stone walls.

…

The Bloody Gates stood firm and tall in our path. I saw men watching us from the towers above the gates as we rode close to it. I couldn't make out how many of them there were. Maybe dozens or maybe hundreds of men defended the gates. It was impossible to tell.

"Who would pass the Bloody Gate?" A loud voice asked us.

"Robb Stark," I answered. "With ser Brynden Tully and Theon Greyjoy."

"And thousands of men behind you," A young man appeared and responded.

"Ser Donnel Waynwood," The Blackfish greeted the young man. "We came there in the name of King Jaehaerys Targaryen, third of his name."

"We serve no such king, ser Brynden Tully," The young man responded.

"And you don't serve the Vale," I told the man. "How long will you hide behind these gates while the Mountain Clans are butchering children and women?"

"Watch what you are speaking of," Ser Donnel warned me.

"Do I speak lies?" I asked. "My father used to tell stories of how honorable men of the Vale were. Did he speak lies?"

"What do you wish to do with the army behind you," Ser Donnel change the subject.

"We came here to help your people, as it seems the knights of the Vale are too afraid."

"Who do you think you are to talk like this of our men?" Ser Donnel asked.

"Robb Stark, first son of Lord Eddard Stark, nephew to Lady Lysa Arryn," I answered. "I came there to speak with my aunt."

"I can't let you pass with the army behind you," Ser Donnel told me.

"Then pass me with a score of men behind me," I replied. "I didn't come to wage war but help the Vale deal with the Mountain clans."

"I will send a raven to the Eyrie," Ser Donnel said.

"Does the name of Stark mean nothing in the Vale anymore?"

"I am sorry, but I must do my duty."

I could do nothing about it. It was impossible to pass the Bloody Gates if they didn't let us pass. I could do nothing but ground my teeth and wait for the response from Eyrie. I could only hope that my aunt would at least let me pass.

"What do we do?" Theon asked.

"We will wait," I answered.

"What if your aunt won't let us pass the gates?"

"Then we won't pass them."

"We come here to help. Not wage war," The Blackfish said. "Still, their honor isn't as high as it was once."

"Doing nothing while it was them who started this war. Their morals are lower than those of worms and vermin," Theon replied and I found truth in his words.

"Then there is nothing for us to do there,"

We waited, and I hoped that my aunt had not abandoned her family and duties. We camped before the Bloody Gates for five days until a raven arrived from the Eyrie. I could only think of the saying "dark wing, dark words" after I read the short letter. It suited the situation well.

"We will be turning back," I said. "It seems there is no saving the Vale."

"Just like this?" Theon asked.

"What else can we do? We have driven the Mountain clans out as much as we could. I could do nothing if the Vale itself doesn't want our help."

I ordered the men to pack their things and be ready to leave by the first light of the next day. While the men were busy preparing to leave, I sat alone and thought of what to do next. I didn't want to give up, but what other choice did I have.

When I was about to prepare to go to sleep for the night, I heard a commotion from the Bloody Gates. I didn't know what was happening, but I ordered the men to be prepared. It could be an attack by the Mountain clans.

After some time, everything quieted down. Before long, the Bloody Gates were opened, and men with a banner of bronze field rode to us. I was surprised to see Lord Royce, but I stayed vigilant.

"Lord Stark," a booming voice called out to me. "We heard you have come to help the Vale. I, Yohn Royce, Lord of Runestone, accept your help."

"Should we get inside, where you explain yourself, Lord Royce?" I asked.

Lord Royce agreed, and I followed him inside the gates. The Blackfish and Theon were behind me. Inside I saw Ser Donnel Waynwood bound and protected by two men in arms. I didn't know what was happening, but Lord Royce was on our side.

"I heard of a host coming to the Vale," Lord Royce said. "At this point, I could take anyone's help. The Mountain clans become impossible to deal with. Someone is giving them steel weapons, and I swear some men pretend to be of the Mountain clans wreaking havoc and pillaging. Yet Lady Arryn has done nothing."

"That is the reason we came. We heard of what was happening in the Vale," I replied. "But why are you there, Lord Royce?"

"It is worse than you heard," Lord Royce let out a sigh. "We are in the civil war with your aunt."

"Please explain it, Lord Royce."

"Some of us have gotten tired of your aunt's inactions and her orders for our knights to stay in their castles. When we demanded her reasons, she got hysterical. She told us if we questioned her anymore, we would be treated as traitors."

"Surely, she doesn't have such a power to be like this," I commented.

"She alone not, but house Corbray, house Redfort, and house Waynwood are on her side. No, it seems that Littlefiinger is running this mummer show behind everyone's backs. Your uncle, Lord Edmure, warned me of Littlefinger. If only I didn't underestimate that sly man."

"So, the Vale is in civil war?" I asked.

"Aye, me, Lord Hunter, and Lord Belmore are the only ones trying to end this madness. While the others are either on Lady Arryn's side or are neutral."

"What do you want of us?" I asked him.

"Of all us, only you have the same blood as Lady Arryn and her son. So, I believe you have some say in their lives. Please support us. If we can take the Gates of the Moon, your aunt won't have any choice but to agree to meet us."

"Very well, the war started with my aunt's actions. She has a lot to answer for," I agreed with him. "What is the situation right now?"

"We lost quite a lot of men to the Redforts and Corbrays. The Waynwoods hold the Gate of the Moon. We didn't want to risk sieging it right now, so we came to take over the Bloody Gates first."

"How many men do you have?" The Blackfish asked.

"About six thousand. We know that the other side doesn't have more than ten thousand."

"We should strike before it is too late," I commented. "You said that house Waynwood is protecting the Gate of the Moon. Where are Corbrays and Redforts?"

"They are in the mountains opposite the Eyrie."

"It would be hard to fight them in the mountains. We need them to strike first."

"What do you plan?"

"I would like you to start the siege of the Gates of the Moon," I explained to him. "I will watch your backs, and if Corbrays and Redforts show up, I will deal with them."

"You want for us to act as bait?" Lord Royce asked. "Ha, very well, I will entrust my back to you. It isn't like we have much of a choice."

With our agreement, I left a hundred men to defend the Bloody Gates while the rest of us followed Lord Royce. Soon enough, we met up with Lord Hunter and Lord Belmore. They were more than happy for us to help them.