Game of thrones: the Sunblode rise

Chapter 58: The Siege of Riverrun

The banners of House Lannister rippled in the cold wind as Tywin's army encamped outside Riverrun's formidable walls. Thousands of soldiers spread out like a sea of gold and crimson, their siege engines groaning as they were maneuvered into position. Despite their strength and numbers, an air of unease hung over the camp. Tywin's men had endured weeks of ambushes, sabotage, and whispers of doom, and now they stood before a fortress that seemed more like a trap than a target.

From the battlements of Riverrun, Ivar Sunblode watched the enemy army with a calm, calculating gaze. The setting sun cast long shadows across the Riverlands, painting the landscape in hues of red and gold. Below, his soldiers moved with quiet efficiency, tightening defenses and preparing for the storm to come.

Beside him, Roland Emberhill frowned as he scanned the horizon. "That's a lot of men, Ivar. Even with our preparations, this won't be easy."

"It's not supposed to be easy," Ivar replied. "It's supposed to be costly—for them."

Roland glanced at him, his concern evident. "And if they breach the walls?"

"They won't," Ivar said firmly. "I've accounted for every possibility. Tywin will throw everything he has at us, but he'll only be wasting his strength."

Lysa Blackthorne joined them, her cloak billowing in the wind. "Tywin's not known for wastefulness," she said. "If he's here, it's because he believes he can win."

"Belief is a powerful thing," Ivar said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But it doesn't win wars. Strategy does. And Tywin's about to learn the difference."

Tywin's first move came at dawn. The siege engines roared to life, hurling massive stones at Riverrun's walls. The ground shook with each impact, but the castle's defenses held firm, its thick stone absorbing the blows.

"Hold your fire!" Roland shouted to the archers lining the battlements. "Wait until they're in range!"

Below, the Lannister infantry advanced in tight formations, their shields raised to form an impenetrable wall. They moved steadily toward the castle, their siege ladders and battering rams ready to breach Riverrun's defenses.

Ivar stood on the battlements, his gaze fixed on the advancing army. "Wait for it," he said, his voice calm.

As the Lannister forces drew closer, the tension among the defenders grew palpable. Soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes darting between Ivar and the enemy.

"Now," Ivar said.

At his command, the Riverlands' defenders unleashed a torrent of fire and steel. Flaming arrows streaked through the sky, striking the siege engines and setting them ablaze. Boiling oil poured from the battlements, scalding the soldiers below and forcing their formations to break.

From hidden positions along the walls, Timothy Sunrise and his enhanced soldiers launched a lightning-fast assault on the siege ladders. With brutal precision, they hacked apart the wooden rungs and drove the attackers back.

"Push them off!" Timothy shouted, his daggers flashing as he dispatched a Lannister soldier trying to scale the wall. "Show them they're not welcome here!"

The battle raged for hours, the air thick with the acrid stench of smoke and blood. Despite their losses, the Lannister forces continued their assault, their discipline unyielding under Tywin's command.

In the war tent outside the castle, Tywin studied the battlefield with cold intensity. His commanders stood around him, their expressions grim.

"Our siege engines are burning," Ser Addam Marbrand reported. "And the infantry is faltering under their counterattacks. Sunblode's defenses are stronger than we anticipated."

"They always are," Tywin said, his voice icy. "That's why we don't rely on brute force alone. Send word to the cavalry. They'll flank the castle and cut off any reinforcements. And have the archers target their towers. We'll weaken them before we strike again."

Inside Riverrun, Ivar monitored the battle from the war room. Messengers came and went, relaying updates from the front lines. Despite the relentless assault, his expression remained calm, his mind focused on the larger picture.

"They're adjusting their strategy," Lysa said, entering the room with a report from the battlements. "Their cavalry is moving to encircle us, and their archers are focusing on the towers."

"Let them," Ivar said. "They're playing into our hands."

He pointed to the map spread across the table. "The cavalry will expose themselves as they maneuver around the castle. That's where we strike. Roland's archers will target their flanks, while Timothy's men launch a surprise attack from the woods. Once the cavalry is neutralized, we'll refocus on the infantry."

"And the archers targeting the towers?" Lysa asked.

"We'll deal with them," Ivar said. "Have the defenders shift their positions to avoid unnecessary casualties. Let Tywin waste his arrows."

As the day wore on, the defenders executed Ivar's plan with precision. Roland's archers rained death on the Lannister cavalry, forcing them to retreat before they could complete their encirclement. In the woods, Timothy and his soldiers ambushed the remaining cavalry, cutting them down with ruthless efficiency.

On the walls, the defenders held firm, their morale bolstered by Ivar's unshakable confidence. Every time the Lannisters advanced, they were met with fire, steel, and unrelenting resistance.

By nightfall, the battlefield was littered with the bodies of the fallen. The Lannister army had suffered heavy losses, and their morale was beginning to waver.

In his war tent, Tywin stood in silence, his hands gripping the edge of the table. His commanders avoided his gaze, their unease palpable.

"This is Sunblode's doing," Kevan said quietly. "He's turned Riverrun into a fortress. Every move we make, he counters it perfectly."

"He's a tactician," Tywin replied, his voice cold. "But even the sharpest mind has its limits. We will press the siege until those limits are reached. Sunblode cannot hold forever."

At Riverrun, Ivar stood on the battlements, watching the smoldering remains of the battlefield. The lion had bared its teeth, but the wolf had held its ground.

Lysa joined him, her expression weary but satisfied. "You did it," she said. "They're pulling back for now."

"It's not over," Ivar said. "Tywin won't stop until he's taken this castle—or until we break him completely."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Lysa asked.

Ivar's gaze hardened. "By showing him that the price of Riverrun is too high—even for a lion."

This is my PayPal account

[email protected]

@abdelkabirsouatra

Enny help will be welcomed 🤗

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/5BM457G6Z775W