personal6

Chapter 32

The mountain against the river

Arianne POV

I was again busy with work after Edmure left with men to hunt the Mountain. I looked over every servant, woman, and man on their background, ensuring that my children were protected well and taking care of Stark girls. It still was just the work of a host, and there was plenty to do as Lady of Riverrun.

With each day, more and more lords were entering the castle. I had to make sure there was a place for them and their men. I was entertaining them and ensuring them that Edmure would come back soon. And worst, I had to mediate between some lord who decided to see which one's cock is bigger.

Somehow the most straightforward job I had was to gather information. The net of informants that Edmure established was easy enough to navigate for me. Most of them were merchants, so I could trust them to tell me things for the right amount of gold. I like when people are so simple.

"Ah, Lannisters, I heard they are preparing a host," The old shopkeeper at the town near Riverrun said to me after I gave him a hundred gold coins.

"Is that so? Would know how big is that host?" I ask him and throw another, a bigger bag of gold dragons, to him.

"I heard Lord Tywin was buying iron and other resources for about thirty and five thousand men, maybe forty thousand. It is hard to get specific numbers," He answers me with a pleasing smile. I could even see his white mustache stretching.

"If you have more information, send a messenger. Gold isn't something that house Tully is lacking," I tell him and leave.

On the way back to the castle, I started to think of what those numbers meant. Currently, the Riverlands could only amass about five and thirty thousand men. The dislike for sellswords was intense among the lords and smallfolk, so it was impossible to hire them.

At best, we would have the same number of men as Lannisters. The problem is that it is known that Westerlands have the best armor and weapons to equip their men. So even with the riches of House Tully, we don't have any advantage. My father and uncle won't be able to send any men either. The only solution is to ask for the North's support as the Vale doesn't respond to our letters.

Edmure POV

It will begin soon. Hundred of my men and I were organizing the evacuation of smallfolk to Mummer's Ford. From a third-person perspective, it would seem that we are stuck in Sherrer guiding stubborn small folk in leaving. It would be partially true.

This town wasn't in a good position to send troops to defend. Apart from people, there wasn't much of a reason to keep this place. It would be only one of the first casualties of the upcoming war. So I commanded people living here to leave to Mummer's Ford, promising safety and food.

Some younger ones eagerly listened, but older ones who had lived there since they were babes didn't want to leave and demanded protection from me. It was natural, and I hoped for such a reaction. It was the only way that the Mountain would take the bait. They will think that I was stuck in this little town with just a hundred men.

There were already scouts that were spotted. The mountain probably is gathering his men and riding towards me at this exact moment. I don't know if he knows of the other men waiting just outside the Mummer's Ford, but either way, it was a chance to take me, and he will strike fast. While he hunts for me, the smallfolk will go to the holdfast for protection.

"My lord, we can see riders coming from the west," The Vice-captain of my guards reports to me.

Taking the far-eye, I look at the west. I could see clouds of dust rising from a distance. It was hard to see how many men were coming, but it was more than a hundred. I took the birdcage and released Styx. The hawk will go to Patrek, and he will know that it is time.

"Command people to go to the holdfast and prepare horses, quickly," I order.

It was the only downside of my plan. I relied on the actions of my enemy. I had calculated their speed and their numbers to give me a window to show that I was here and at the same time retreat. If the Mountain doesn't take the bait and chase me, it will all be lost. I have to leave those people to die.

"My lord, everything is prepared. We are awaiting your orders," The vice-captain informs me.

"We are retreating, ride to the Mummer's Ford," I give commands and hop on Rain.

The Mountain took the bait as he didn't even try to enter the town and instead turned towards us. The chase began. The Mountain was close to our tails. We were riding along the Red Fork river, which was to the east of us. So the Mountain tried to cut our only escape to the West.

It was the time. I thought as I saw a hawk flying over my head. Patrek and the rest of the men were close. I had to take on the Mountain now unless he decided to retreat after seeing reinforcements. It was a sharp turn. I, who was leading, turned sharply and unexpectedly to the enemy and rode to the West.

As expected, the Mountain and his men rode to block us. Both of our riders lost movement speed and clashed in anticlimactic force. Our position was at a disadvantage as we were half surrounded, but I planned it so from the start.

The Mountain was unstoppable as he cut down one man after another and when straight to me. I didn't have to cut any men as my guards did it for me and readied my lance. I had to unhorse the Mountain, and I did so by driving my lance at his horse. He fell to the ground with the horse on top of him.

Taking my eyes from the Mountain, I looked at the rest of his men. There were numerous of them, and they rushed to aid their leader. Too bad it was too late as my reinforcements struck them from their flank. The situation was reversed in an instant. Patrek and the rest of my knights surrounded them, and the only escape left for them was the river behind me.

But I made a mistake turning my eyes from the Mountain as it that moment he not only managed to get up, but he struck me with his massive greatsword too. Only by reflex did I manage to lift my shield in defense. The force from the greatsword managed to knock me down from my horse.

I rolled and stood up as quickly as possible. Ignoring the pain coming from my back, I drew my sword and faced the Mountain. Taking the second strike from him with my shield, I felt my arm numb. The shield was bend and unusable anymore, so I threw it at the Mountains head and retreated.

From now on, I knew that I couldn't get hit by him. His massive greatsword was just too dangerous. Even if he didn't cut my armor, the force alone could break my bones. So I dodged his third strike and fourth too. Only finding an opening on his fifth swing, cutting his arm. The wound was deep but not life-threatening to the Mountain. It didn't even slow him down.

After dozens of his swings, I only managed to cut him twice more, once on the leg and a small cut on this stomach. It was hard to cut through his armor. And I had to watch my surroundings and defend against other men of the Mountain.

My fight brought me to the river. There was nowhere for me to retreat anymore. The Mountain realized that too and laughed. He stopped to look at me like I was a cornered rat. But I was a rat with the means to bite back. I used the moment he stopped, pulling back my chest plate and taking two glasses of liquid fire from there.

My armor was designed to have soft insides just for this battle. It wasn't strong as usual plate armor, but it was lighter, and it was the only way for the glasses not to break. The mountain looked at the bottles with faint interest but dismissed them and charged at me once again.

I threw both of the glasses at his chest, and the liquid spread to his armor as they broke. But the Wildfire didn't ignite. It was my mistake for thinking it would burst in fire the moment of contact. I paid for that mistake when I had to block the Mountain with my sword. The difference in strength was too much. My sword and arms were batted away like it was nothing.

Knowing there wasn't any other choice but step to the water, away from the Mountain. What I didn't expect was when our swords clashed, it produced sparks. Those sparks ignited the Wildfire on the Mountain's armor. The Wildfire created a small explosion that knocked me back. As I got up from the water, I could hear the screams of the Mountain, screams of agony.

I looked at him, trashing and swinging his sword without any control until he dropped the greatsword. With sounds of burning flesh, I saw him running towards me. Quickly taking my sword and jumping out of his way, I saw him throwing himself into the river. Just as I was about to follow and finish him, I felt a strain on my ankle.

"Edmure," Patrek rode next to me and called me out. "Are you alright?"

"I think I spraint my ankle. Aside from that, I am fine," I answer and look at the river where Mountain was supposed to be.

"Should we try to catch him?" Patrek asks.

"No, if he survives, he survives. It is pointless to catch the river flow," I reply to him. "It seems we got everyone else."

"Yes, few strangles managed to escape, but they won't be able to run far," He reports.

"Let's clean this up and go back to Riverrun," I command.

With the help of Patrek, I walked to the battleground and looked around. The men who came with to act as bait were the only casualties of this clash. Otherwise, we wiped the Mountains men without losing too much. Horses and men alike lay down on the ground. Blood flowing toward the River.