The Shadow of Winterfell Chapter 24

Hadrian Snow

The valley surrounding Harrenhal had been turned into a city of tents. Tens of thousands of men now occupied the lush fields, with only the mightiest of Lords afforded space within the castle itself.

The sigil of House Lannister was the most visible from where he stood, with red tents and golden lions seemingly everywhere. But Harry could still see the Stark direwolf off in the distance, meaning that at least some Northmen had arrived and set up camp.

“So this is what a southern army looks like.” Val moved to his side atop her horse then, overlooking the camp from their hill.

She wore the white outfit she was so fond of, made of snow bear fur and white leather, thick and perfect for battle, as well as for the conditions north of the Wall. But Harry had enchanted it for her since coming south, adding protection runes and temperature adjustment charms that would ensure she wouldn’t overheat. She carried her trusty spear with her, along with a bow, as to show she was armed and not some common whore like most women in a war camp.

But Harry only spared her a glance before looking back at the massive encampment. It was a lot for him to take in, and must have been even more impressive for a former Free folk like Val. It must have made her think about what the Wildlings would’ve had to face if they ever came south past the Wall, as even with their large numbers, tens of thousands of knights and men-at-arms clad in steel would’ve been a formidable force to face head on.

“It certainly is a lot.” Harry commented in return, being noncommittal. From what rumors the smallfolk spread on their way here, the combined Lannister, Stark, and Tully force would likely have more than 50,000 men.

“Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised to run into you.” Came a familiar voice then, and Harry looked over to see Tyrion Lannister heading his way on horseback, followed by a small retinue of guards. “The Bastard of Winterfell.”

“Lord Tyrion.” Harry greeted.

“Hmm, perhaps I too should refer to you as an actual Lord at this point.” Tyrion tiled his head, and eyed the women with him. “What intriguing company you keep, Lord Harry.”

Val was not the only one with him, as both Ashara and Kinvara rode behind him. The Red Priestess stood out with her exotic foreign features and vibrant red dress. Ashara, on the other hand, had chosen the path of discretion, wearing a dark cloak and hood to try and hide her beautiful violet eyes.

He didn’t reply, but Tyrion was undeterred, carefully studying the women with him before curtsying. “Lady Dayne, it’s a pleasure to have you with us. And this is… A red priestess, I assume? And who would this other woman be? Those white furs look awfully warm.”

Val glared at Tyrion, while Kinvara remained expressionless. Ashara, meanwhile, smiled politely underneath her hood. They hadn’t wanted Ashara’s identity revealed, at least publicly, but Tyrion Lannister was simply too perceptive for his own good. “Thank you, Lord Tyrion. I assure you that I am a great ally of Lord Stark, and am not here to cause trouble.”

“Of course. The only reason that Dorne doesn’t join us in opposing Renly is due to him holding Princess Arianne hostage.” Tyrion coughed awkwardly, and apologized once he realized Arianne’s affiliation to him.

Wanting to steer the conversation away from his group, and having seen Stark banners in the distance, Harry spoke. “I assume Robb arrived with his men already, what can you tell me of them?”

“Your cousin only arrived yestereve.” Tyrion answered. “What Northmen I’ve talked to are spoiling for a fight, and are desperate to set out. Sadly, we’re still waiting on Lord Tully to fully gather his vassals, as well as for my Father and the others to come up with a plan.”

“I see.” He replied simply. It seemed that their army would be at Harrenhal for some time before they actually set out.

Tyrion soon left, seemingly having amused himself enough with their presence. And so Harry became more cautious as he led their group around the campsite, steering clear of the main paths as they maneuvered through the maze of tents. He knew that his name had spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and Harry didn’t want anyone else to recognize him for the time being.

The massive encampment was split into two, a Lannister half and a Stark half, and further divided from there. Each Lord had their own section where their men and vassals camped, patrolled by their own men-at-arms. Eventually, their group arrived at the main camp for House Stark, one of the largest and most ornate as befitting of the most powerful House of the North.

He was afforded a special tent next to Robb’s own, and Harry left his three companions to get everything set before walking into his cousin’s tent without a care in the world. The guards didn’t stop him, meaning that Robb was likely receiving visitors constantly, as Harry waltzed right in.

Robb Stark was hunched over a desk, with letters, maps, and parchment filling the space. To his credit, his cousin noticed his entrance almost immediately, as his eyes widened before he stood. “Harry?!”

His cousin had aged since he last saw him in Winterfell. Robb had grown a beard, and carried a more mature and hardened air about him compared to before. Clearly the weight of being Warden of the North in Ned’s absence had weighed heavily on him. That wasn’t to mention having to lead the North’s armies south, as he could see the tired bags under his cousin’s eyes.

“Long time no see, cousin.” Harry smiled.

“It’s good to see you.” Robb hugged him before pulling back. “What news of Father in the capital?”

He tried not to grimace, but couldn’t help it. “Before this whole mess started, Lord Stark sent me to the Vale on an errand. I only found out about this mess not long ago, and rushed here as fast as I could.”

“I see.” He could spot the disappointment in his cousin’s eyes. “I had hoped to hear more from Father since this whole mess started.”

“You probably know this already, but some smallfolk from King’s Landing informed me that Ned was preparing the city for a siege.” He was partly lying, as it had been Val and the others who informed him of such. “I doubt he will leave, and will probably hunker down until we can relive him.”

“Aye.” Robb nodded. “The Lannisters told me the same. There is to be a war council tonight, and we are likely to set out the day after the morrow. Lord Edmure is leading the Riverlands forces in his Father’s stead, as Lord Hoster is bedridden. Though my uncle is having a difficult time rousing all his banners, which is causing the delay.”

While they both didn’t comment on it, the implication that Edmure Tully was unimpressive went without saying. If they didn’t act soon, the Riverlands would be plunged into war, and it said a lot that it took so long for House Tully to rouse their banners to action.

“Who did you bring with you?” Harry suddenly asked. “Don’t tell me you were foolish enough to bring Bran or Arya?”

“No.” Robb smiled ruefully. “To tell you the truth, I already miss them. Luckily, Sansa and Myrcella get along well, and will have Mother there to look after them all. Theon came with me, and has already gotten into several fights. Not to mention his constant splurging on whores.”

Harry had always disliked Theon, especially for his incessant whoring, and it seemed that Robb was finally coming to see things his way for once. While he could give the boy some leeway over the travesty that was his early life and living through the Greyjoy Rebellion, Harry eventually got sick of his incessant instigating and rude comments. It was one of the things that drove him from Winterfell initially, as being reminded that he was a bastard day-in and day-out by the Greyjoy heir got very tiresome. Jon was practically a saint to put up with Theon’s antics for so long.

“You’ve really made a name for yourself.” Robb said then, and Harry looked into his eyes to see something he hadn’t seen in a while. It was the same look people gave him when they realized he was the Boy-Who-Lived in his past life, akin to that of reverence. “Bran and Arya talk about you a lot, and the Maester often reads letters we get from King’s Landing aloud during meals. They’ve taken to acting out the adventures you and Father go on in their free time, and they’re hardly the only ones. Most of the smallfolk and guards talk about you and Father very highly as well.”

He had never been good with praise, as he tried to push down the feelings of embarrassment. “I can assure you, its hardly been as exciting as you would think.”

Robb rose a disbelieving brow. “Reforming the City Watch? Fighting the Mountain? Wildfire? I would say you and Father have had quite the time.”

“As I said, nothing you would be sad to miss.” He waved a dismissive hand, as Robb snorted in amusement. “King’s Landing is even worse than you can imagine. Ned and I could hardly walk around without being accosted by some pompous southron Lord[…]”

/////

The Great Hall of Harrenhal was the largest room Harry had ever been in. The Great Hall of Hogwarts from his past life paled in comparison, as to stand inside the ruined castle burned by dragonfire felt like being inside a graveyard of giants.

A head table that sat Robb, Tywin Lannister, and Edmure Tully had been set up at its head, with countless Lords, both sitting and standing, around a large map that laid squarely on the ground in plain view of them all.

The war council had begun between all three armies, with Lords and vassals from the North, Riverlands, and Westerlands in attendance. It was only once Edmure Tully arrived in the evening that they officially began, wanting to have as many Lords present as possible before they marched further south to confront Renly. That wasn’t to mention that word had reached them of messengers being on their way to Harrenhal, meaning they would have better information of the situation soon.

For Harry, he got to stand behind Robb as an advisor, and despite his bastard status, he had enough accomplishments under his name to warrant no undue scrutiny. Him and his cousin had talked for hours in his tent, with Harry doing his best to council and advise Robb to the best of his ability. In turn, Robb was kind enough to put a thousand mounted men-at-arms belonging to House Stark under Harry’s direct command for the coming battle, to do with as he saw fit.

“ Report! ” A knight was literally dragged through the open doors and into the room then, with two men-at-arms holding him up at his sides. His armor was beaten to hell and covered in blood, with several arrow shafts sticking out of him that were hastily patched over. “I bring word from Lord Stark!”

At once, every Lord was on their feet in anticipation, as the knight was brought to the front of the room to look over the map of Westeros.

Robb was the first one who spoke. “Tell me what my Father has to say!”

“I rode straight from King’s Landing, my Lords, and left right when Renly’s advance forces had arrived and begun to lay siege to the city.” The knight reported, his face pale. “To tell you the truth, I barely escaped the Crownlands with my life, and fear that there will be no further messengers from Lord Stark.”

Ravens could be easily intercepted in wartime, especially during a siege, meaning that men sent out as messengers were one of the few reliable ways to get information.

“Yes, that seemed rather obvious.” Tywin Lannister said coldly. “What of their numbers?”

“They are surrounding King’s Landing on all sides, and are estimated to number around ten thousand. Before I left, Lord Stark speculated that Renly’s main army would break off and advance further north up the kingsroad.”

Kevin Lannister moved to the massive map, and positioned several markers around King’s Landing to signify the besieging Reach army of ten thousand. Normally a squire or servant would’ve done such a task, but the importance of the war council was so significant that even someone of Kevin Lannister’s status was relegated to such a task.

“Smart.” Tywin remarked while everyone digested the news. “Renly split off some of his forces to lay siege to King’s Landing, while advancing north with his main force to prevent us from intervening. Clearly he intends to capture those Lords still in the capital to use against us as leverage.”

It meant that unless they moved in a timely manner to liberate King’s Landing, then Renly would win the war. King Tommen, Ned Stark, and Cersei Lannister were among the high-profile individuals residing within the Red Keep, and if Renly managed to capture all of them and hold them hostage as leverage, he would be able to levy incredibly steep demands against them to bring the war to an end.

Not even someone as heartless as Tywin Lannister could ignore such leverage, as Harry seriously doubted the Lord Lannister would let his daughter and grandchildren die in favor of continuing the war if Renly actually succeeded in storming the Red Keep.

The nearby Lords muttered in worry, clearly coming to the same realization that he did.

“Aye.” Robb agreed. “That only leaves us with one option.”

“Being?” Edmure Tully questioned.

“We will crush Renly’s army and move south to liberate King’s Landing!” Robb exclaimed, much to the elation of the fellow Northern Lords who were present. The hall was suddenly full of cheers and roars of approval, as some Lords—not all of them Northmen—unsheathed their swords and raised them aloft in their fervor.

It took a while for the hall to calm down, as Tywin Lannister scowled at them all while his brother, Kevin Lannister, grinned in amusement. “Indeed.”

“Report!” Another knight entered the room, although he looked more healthy than the previous messenger. “Renly’s army has been spotted moving north up the kingsroad, with an estimated 80,000 men!”

“Ngh! 80,000?!”

“So our meager lot against 80 eh?” Greatjon Umber grinned.

“Surely this must be the largest host ever assembled?”

“Then the time to move is now.” Tywin stated, before turning to Robb. “How many men did you bring?”

“20,000” Robb answered without showing any worry at being addressed by the most dangerous man in Westeros. Rather, Ned’s eldest son replied, “And how many men did you bring with you, Lord Tywin?”

“We have 30,000.” Tywin answered, before looking back at the map. “My son, Jaime, has another 10,000 men at Crakehall to defend the Ocean Road.”

Harry examined the large map and saw the route Tywin was referring to, being the western part of the Reach and Westerlands that was connected along the shore. If the Lannisters had an army there, it meant that they could march into the Reach whenever they wanted, with House Tyrell being able to do the same if they so pleased to the Westerlands.

“And you, Lord Edmure, how many men?” Tywin asked the stand-in Lord of the Riverlands.

“25,000.” Edmure Tully answered.

“A combined 75,000 men, up against whatever Renly has truly amassed?” One Lord muttered.

“I heard that those Reach weaklings are ill-equipped. Maybe 20,000 of them will don actual steel.”

“Still, they outnumber us quite a bit.”

“We shall march the day after the morrow.” Tywin decided, ending all conversation in the room at once. He then looked around to see if anyone would dare disagree with him. “We shall head directly for Renly’s army, and seek battle on an open field on the shores of the God’s Eye.”

A wise decision, as with the water to their side would prevent one side of the army from being outflanked. If Renly truly had as many men as the scouts claimed, then it was possible for his force to spread wide and envelop part of their army, which could only lead to disaster on their end.

“The Lannister army of 30,000 men will make up the central army. The Starks will be the right wing against the shore with their 20,000, with House Tully taking up the left with their 25,000 men.” Tywin decided, and no one argued otherwise. The Lannisters came with the most men, and the Starks could hardly be the center of their formation if they had the least amount of men.

The grand meeting eventually came to a close, as there would need to be more preparation between the Lords and their vassals. Robb would have to organize his own army after all, as the Umbers, Boltons, Karstarks, and other troublesome Lords would have to be appeased and ordered into a cohesive formation.

All of this ran through Harry’s mind as he exited the massive grand hall, only for a hand to grasp his arm as a stranger pressed against his side.

He looked over to see a beautiful blonde woman walking with him, wearing an expensive red dress that hugged her buxom form. She was older and curvy, not quite overweight, but having more meat on her bones compared to most women. He briefly glimpsed her cleavage, seeing two massive breasts that her dress struggled to contain, clearly having been swelled over the years by childbirth.

“I must thank you for getting rid of that rabid dog, Clegane.” The woman smiled at him. “My brother might not appreciate losing his hound, but in truth, we’ve been wanting him gone for some time. He’s caused us quite a bit of trouble with Dorne, you see.”

“Your brother?” Harry frowned, feeling lost in how confident this woman was to approach him so suddenly. “I don’t believe I got your name?”

“Genna Lannister, at your service.” She curtseyed. “Tywin is my brother.”

Harry breathed in realization, but kept his reaction carefully neutral. There had been worry about the Lannisters’ reaction to him killing the Mountain at the time, but nothing ever came of it. “It was an unfortunate accident, my Lady. But I’m glad to hear that all is forgiven.”

“Yes, an accident.” Genna snorted. “One that ended with you betrothed to a Dornish Princess.”

“As I said, an accident.”

She hummed, and then moved closer, her mammoth breasts pressing against his arm. Her voice came out husky, making his hairs stand on edge. “I’ve always desired a big, strong man. Clegane was always too rabid for me to bed, but you…”

She eyed his body hungrily, and he felt his hairs stand on edge while his cock twitched within the confines of his trousers. This was hardly the first time that a random Lady had propositioned him, but Harry definitely didn’t expect this gorgeous Lannister MILF to try and get in his pants. “You’re very forward.”

“Being a woman my age changes one’s perspective.” She purred. “But there’s just one thing I’m not sure of before we begin.”

“What?”

“Whether a young man like you would be able to handle me.”

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the Age of 18