Two days later.
Hother Umber, the acting lord of Last Hearth, finally arrived at Winterfell with three hundred spearmen and one hundred archers.
With his arrival, nearly every bannerman in the North who could answer the call had gathered at Winterfell, except for those in the most distant regions and the forces of White Harbor.
Some houses had brought hundreds of soldiers, while others could only muster a few dozen.
After counting the forces, Galon realized that he now commanded more than three thousand five hundred men.
Aside from the two hundred cavalry brought by House Karstark, most of the army consisted of infantry.
After discussing matters with Maester Luwin, Galon decided to leave roughly six hundred men at Winterfell to guard House Stark. These forces were composed of troops from House Glover, Bear Island, and Cerwyn.
They would be commanded by the second daughter of Lady Mormont.
The remaining three thousand men would follow Galon south to eliminate the combined Ironborn forces of Euron Greyjoy and Victarion Greyjoy.
The next day, the army set out.
Galon ordered the cavalry to ride ahead as scouts, while he led the infantry behind them. Farmers followed at the rear, pushing wagons loaded with supplies.
After marching for most of the morning, the army finally reached the crossing at the White Knife.
A snowfall had recently passed through the North, leaving thin ice across the river. The ice cracked beneath a horse's hooves with the slightest pressure.
The wooden bridge was crowded with soldiers crossing.
Galon watched the Bolton troops ahead slowly making their way across and frowned.
"Go. Tell Ramsay to move faster," he ordered.
"If he delays again, he will face military punishment."
Ever since Sansa had officially declared Galon supreme commander in the name of House Stark, he had spent the past few days reorganizing the army at Winter Town.
It was necessary.
Each bannerman had brought different types of soldiers. Some wealthy houses arrived with well-equipped spearmen and archers, while poorer houses could only field men carrying crude iron weapons.
To ensure unified command, Galon reorganized the army according to the structure used at Deepwood Motte. Units were divided into squads of ten and companies of one hundred.
Lords with small forces were assigned command over ten-man units, while those with larger forces led companies of a hundred.
Over the past two days, Galon had also strictly enforced discipline.
Thanks to his impressive victories, many bannermen complained privately about the strict rules, but none dared defy his orders openly.
Especially after Galon had made examples of several offenders.
Thus, when a messenger delivered Galon's warning, the Bolton soldiers quickly increased their pace.
Galon snorted quietly.
"Ramsay is deliberately trying to slow things down," he thought.
"Before the battle begins, I should assign him a glorious mission and send him to die."
His gaze darkened as he planned how to use the Bolton army as expendable forces.
After looking away from the bridge, he ordered the rest of the army to move faster.
Time was passing, and the Ironborn would not wait for them.
Just then, a Karstark cavalryman rode toward him at full speed.
"My lord, ships from White Harbor are approaching downstream!"
The rider pointed toward the lower reaches of the White Knife.
Galon looked in the indicated direction.
Weeds drifted across the river's surface, and in the distance several sails appeared.
Blue and green banners bearing a white merman fluttered in the wind.
"White Harbor…"
Galon murmured softly.
He had assumed the distance was too great for them to arrive so quickly.
"Alert the troops and maintain vigilance," he ordered.
He rode to an open area near the bridge and waited personally.
When the ships from White Harbor docked, the sound of hulls scraping against the icy water echoed harshly.
A large, elderly figure stepped onto the shore.
His body was extremely fat, and his cloak was damp with sea spray.
It was Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbor.
He did not approach immediately.
Instead, his eyes first scanned the soldiers on guard, then turned toward Galon.
His gaze carried both courtesy and calculation as he assessed the young commander.
Galon recognized him at once.
The man's enormous figure made him impossible to mistake.
Galon dismounted quickly and walked forward.
"Lord Manderly. I am Galon Glover of Deepwood Motte. By the command of House Stark, I currently hold authority over the Northern armies."
Surprise flickered across Manderly's face, but he soon smiled warmly and stepped forward.
"I have heard much of your reputation in White Harbor, Lord Galon."
"And now Winterfell has named you supreme commander. Truly a remarkable young talent."
His face looked friendly, but his eyes carefully evaluated Galon's strength.
Galon noticed the scrutiny but did not mind.
"There was little choice," he replied calmly.
"Ser Rodrik fell defending Winterfell…"
Before he could finish, Manderly's expression changed sharply.
"Ser Rodrik is dead?"
Galon nodded, his face solemn.
"Yes. Euron attacked the castle at night. Ser Rodrik fought bravely, but was ultimately defeated."
"After defeating and capturing Asha Greyjoy, I rode through the night with cavalry to relieve the siege."
"But I arrived too late."
"By the time I drove Euron away, Ser Rodrik was already dying."
With only a few sentences, Galon explained Rodrik's death while also revealing why he had been chosen to lead.
Manderly's suspicious gaze softened with grief.
"A month ago I was still speaking with him and Lady Catelyn in White Harbor," he sighed.
"Who would have thought that would be our last meeting."
At that moment, a tall blond man jumped ashore from one of the ships behind them.
The moment he saw Galon, his face lit up.
"My lord Galon!"
Galon turned and immediately recognized him.
"Newgate? You're alive?"
Earlier reports from White Harbor had only mentioned that Moat Cailin had fallen and that some soldiers had escaped. They had never said that Newgate was among them.
Galon had assumed he was dead.
Newgate approached quickly, smiling, and briefly recounted what had happened at Moat Cailin.
When he finished, Galon clapped him on the shoulder.
"It's good that you survived."
"My lord Galon," Manderly interrupted gently.
"I have important intelligence to report. May we speak privately?"
Galon nodded thoughtfully.
He gestured to Newgate, then followed Manderly to a large rock near the riverbank.
The soldiers nearby stepped back to give them space.
"What news do you bring?" Galon asked.
Manderly lowered his voice.
"On my way here, I encountered farmers whose villages were raided by the Ironborn."
"They told me the Ironborn army is marching toward the Hornwood Hills."
"They should arrive there within three days at most."
Galon's expression immediately became serious.
The terrain of the Hornwood Hills flashed through his mind.
The region consisted of two main ridges, East Horn and West Horn. The Kingsroad ran between them.
Neither ridge was particularly tall, barely three hundred meters, but the slopes were covered with oak and sentinel trees, perfect for ambushes.
If the Ironborn passed through those hills, the North would lose its natural defensive advantage.
After that, the two armies would meet in open battle on the plains.
"That cannot happen," Galon said quietly.
"We cannot let the Ironborn pass the Hornwood Hills."
He immediately understood the situation.
He needed to reach the northern entrance of the hills before Euron and Victarion arrived and trap them within the mountain pass.
Manderly smiled when he saw Galon's reaction.
"I see you understand the situation."
"That is why I came."
"I have brought six hundred infantry from White Harbor."
"They are now under your command."
"Use them well."
Galon's eyes lit up.
"Rest assured, my lord. The Ironborn will not advance another step."
He paused, then asked, "Will you be joining us in battle?"
Manderly shook his head.
"I am too old for campaigning."
He looked at Galon and explained briefly.
"I must go to Winterfell. News has arrived from Dragonstone, and I believe House Stark should hear it immediately."
Galon blinked slightly.
He sensed there was more to the matter.
But when he saw Manderly smiling without elaboration, he wisely chose not to press further.
Instead, he called Newgate over.
"Take thirty men and escort Lord Manderly safely to Winterfell."
"Once you arrive, report to Lady Mormont and remain to help guard the castle."
Newgate nodded.
"Yes, my lord."
Manderly also summoned his captain of guards and instructed him to follow Galon's commands.
Once everything was settled, Manderly mounted his horse and departed for Winterfell.
Galon watched him leave until he disappeared from sight.
Then he immediately issued new orders.
"Tell everyone to increase the pace."
"We must reach the northern entrance of the Hornwood Hills by noon tomorrow."
At once, the entire army surged forward.
The Northern host marched swiftly toward the Hornwood Hills.
And as Galon prepared to face the Ironborn in a decisive battle, another turning point of fate was unfolding far to the south, at Riverrun in the Riverlands.
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath