Lady of Winterfell

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Battle of Oxcross

Walking through the field with his most loyal commanding officers, Robb couldn't help but look around at the destruction around him; they had won the battle of Oxcross and he was pleased with their progress. 

The war was going far better than he had hoped and Robb was sure that it wouldn't be much longer before the North was freed from Lannister control completely and the war had been won. 

Robb couldn't help but allow his thoughts to drift to his wife, it had been many months since they had been together and he doubted that he would be home in time for the birth of his first child. 

"Five Lannisters dead for every one of ours," Roose Bolton informed his King while he walked by Robb's side, his eyes survey the scene around him and he was pleased with how this battle had gone as well as the last. 

Things were truly looking up for the Northerns and Roose was pleased to be on the winning side, he eyed the soldiers that collected items from the dead, they wouldn't need them now anyway. 

"We have nowhere to keep all these prisoners and barely enough food to feed our own," Roose mused hating that there was so many that had been captured, they were running out of space to keep all the Lannister men that they had defeated in battle. 

Robb didn't say a word, he knew just what Roose wanted and there was no way that he would give the man that; he didn't want to kill people needlessly when they were already winning this war. 

"We are not executing prisoners, Lord Bolton," insisted Robb, he wasn't going to change his mind and he didn't want to become known as the King that executed men just for following orders. 

He just wanted this over with and Robb wanted nothing more than to focus on getting this war finished; he wanted to return to Winterfell and be with his wife, he wanted to meet his unborn child when he had the chance.

"Of course Your Grace, the officers will be useful some of them may be privy to Tywin Lannister's plans," Roose agreed, he was hopeful that they would learn what Tywin had planned next and that it would help them prepare for what came next. 

They were winning this war and Roose wished for it to stay that way, things had to be done to ensure the North stood a chance against Tywin's forces. 

It just wasn't enough that they had Jaime Lannister as their prisoner, Tywin Lannister wasn't going to sue for peace when he had Robb's sisters as his prisoners. 

"I doubt it," Robb murmured with a shake of his head, he doubted any of these men knew anything about what Tywin was planning because they were just common foot soldiers. 

They probably had no other choice but to fight for Tywin, even if they didn't agree with what was happening; they were just following the orders that they had been given. 

"Well we will learn soon enough, in my family we say that a naked man has few secrets, a flayed man has none," Roose explained hoping that Robb would listen, they were winning this war and it helped that everyone was on their side right now. 

If only for a little push, they could take control of the war that was building; there were five Kings battling for control and it didn't seem likely that they would get the Greyjoy's support. 

There had been no word from Theon since he had headed off on his trip and Roose doubted that the Greyjoy would be coming back with any news of what was happening. 

"My father outlawed flaying in the North," Robb reminded Roose, he had little interest in bringing back such a practice when there was no need for it.

They were winning and Robb was sure that it would not be long before things would work out, they were just waiting to hear from Catelyn on news about how her meeting with Renly Baratheon was going. 

They were sure that Renly was more likely to agree with their terms than Balon was, the last thing that they needed was anything taking away from what they were doing here in the Riverlands.

"We are not in the North," Roose stated hoping to change Robb's mind, he didn't believe that these men could know nothing about what was being planned. 

Tywin Lannister was losing this war and it wouldn't be long before the man slipped up, he had to defend against King Robb, King Stannis and King Renly right now. 

There was no sign of anything happening with the Greyjoys yet but it wouldn't be long before they started and no one was sure who they would be fighting against. 

"The high roads very pretty, but you'll have a hard time marching your army down there," Roose said stopping and looking at Robb, they didn't have the time to waste right now; they had Tywin on the run and it would serve them well to ensure that it stayed that way. 

Robb frowned at Roose's words, he didn't know what it was about the man but something about him set Robb on edge and he was almost relieved that he had other Lords that he could trust. 

Still Sanira's pregnancy remained a secret to most of the North and Robb doubted that it would remain that way when she birthed their child. 

The new prince or princess would be a welcomed addition especially since they would be heir to his throne; Robb just wanted to ensure that his child wasn't born into a realm at war with itself. 

"The Lannisters hold prisoners of their own... I will not give them an excuse to abuse my sisters," Robb insisted with a shake of his head, he couldn't imagine what was happening to Sansa and Arya right now while they were hostage in the Southern capital.

Their talk was interrupted by the sound of a man pleading, Robb turned around and watched as a combat healer pulled off the man's boot to reveal a badly infected leg; she spoke quickly to the silent sister that was trying to hold the man down. 

It did not look good for his leg and the combat healer knew that there was only one course of action that could be taken to save the soldier's life. 

Robb swiftly walked over to the fallen soldier and helped secure him so that he didn't move too much while the combat healer worked on his leg; he offered the man something to bite down on while the combat healer prepared to amputate his leg. 

Making sure that the man could not see, Robb spared a look back just as the combat healer started to saw off his leg; he winkled his nose and turned back away. 

It didn't take long before the combat healer was done with her work and the silent sisters took him away to recover from what had just happened; she didn't look at Robb while she put away her tools. 

"What is your name?" Robb asked curiously, he was surprised to find a woman that wasn't liked with the silent sisters working in the field and he was curious. 

The combat healer frowned, she was angry at the man before her because his stupid war had cost so many people their lives; she had seen many men die this day because of his actions. 

"Talisa Maegyr," the combat healer replied stiffly, she moved away not wishing to spend so much time in the presence of Robb and she was sure more people would die before this war was over. 

Robb furrowed his brow, it was not the name of a house that he recognised and he had a feeling that he would be seeing a lot of this Talisa as the war progressed. 

He slowly moved back wanting to speak with other Lords, there was much to do have their success here and Robb wished to write home to his wife.