Version 2.0
The morning sun illuminated the expansive battlefield as the three armies positioned themselves. The Locke King, perched atop his hill formed his troops into a disciplined line, spears bristling in anticipation held against shields.
Below the Locke Kings, the combined forces of the Winter and Slate Kings gathered on the open plain. Brandon stood with his captains, studying the hill that lay before them. The banners of House Stark and the banners of House Slate flapped in the wind.
Brandon had split his attacking force into two, one lead by himself taking the right flank whilst Edric led the other attacking towards the centre. Edwyn Slate had done the same though leaving his left side to his trusted second in command and leading his men towards the centre hoping to push through the main line.
On the hill, the Locke King observed the gathered army with a calculating gaze and a large smile. His banner stood behind him fluttering in the wind.
"My king the men are in position, Edric is ready," Theon stated. "He will hold the centre and push with the Slate King if he can."
"Good." Brandon declared. "March to the hill." His shouts quickly echoed by his men down his lines, soon followed by the echoes of march.
The rhythmic beat of heavy steps echoed across the battlefield as the armies began their inexorable march toward the contested hill. Spears tapped in unison as the Stark and Slate forces advanced, closing the distance to the imposing slope where the Locke King's army held its ground.
The Locke King's limited archers, positioned advantageously on the elevated hill, let loose a volley of arrows. The arrows found little, most bouncing off shields and armour or missing targets, whilst spears rain down from the wealthier soldiers, they are too few. As the advancing forces closed in, the terrain picked up, and men quickly started stringing legs and breathing heavily. The Stark and Slate soldiers, determined and undeterred, pressed on.
Finally, the lines meet, followed by clashes, grunts, and the clanging of metal. The Locke King's soldiers, thrust spears down and bash against shields pushing them from the hills. The infantry of the Winter King and the Slate King push on battling against the uphill resistance.
The battlefield battled on as the lines pushed against each other, where lines of warriors clashed and fought relentlessly. But it was the slight number advantage that pushed the combined armies forward and their combined concentrated number in the centre allowed them to push on.
As the centre line of the Stark and Slate forces pressed forward, the Locke King moved. From his vantage point atop the hill, he deployed reserve troops to reinforce the centre. These fresh soldiers, eager for combat, pushed back against the determined centre assault.
But Gareth didn't stop there, as he pressed on as Slate King's pressed towards the centre. He moved his household guards to attack the exposed side of the Slate forces, diverting attention away from the centre and starting to press him inwards. The Slate King stopped his press forward and shifted to the defence as he and his second in command held back the household guards with their own, to stop them from butchering their levies.
The clash intensified as the Locke King's men held the line on the hill, repelling the Stark and Slate forces. Spears clashed with renewed vigour, each side struggling to gain an advantage. The battlefield echoed with the shouts of warriors, the clash of weapons, and the thundering of combat.
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"My King, their centre is holding," Theon says, "A push like that would strain the men too hard. Fighting up the hill is already exhausting them," Theon explained.
Brandon hummed as he continued to gaze upon the hill-stricken battleground. "The Locke King continues to hold troops in reserve, moving them to where they are most needed. We won't be able to just break through his central line."
"Are you suggesting we attack around the side then?" Theon asked. "Because I fear it won't work; his reserve troops will block any forces that try to attack that way."
"I know, that's why we need someone to draw out the rest of his reserve troops," Brandon explained.
"He sits atop a very defensible hill, my King. It won't be easy to make him move."
"The war against the Others taught me plenty about defensive warfare, seeing how we were always on the defensive. And if I've learned anything from them, it's that a defence can always be broken. You either wait them out or find the weakness in it," Brandon said, continuing to observe the hill.
"Gareth Locke is no Other, though, my King."
"He might not be a heartless killer, but we are both intelligent beings. You saw that at the final battle, Theon. They picked our defences apart, targeting our kings along the walls. They played us well, and we only managed to win by the skin of our teeth."
They stood in silence as the battle continued to unfold.
The battle continued to drag on, each side locked in a fierce struggle on the hills. As the fighting persisted, the Slate King decided to personally lead an attack, moving with his king's men to the front lines in an attempt to break through. Seeing this, the Locke King responded swiftly, diverting the reserves of his house troops to intercept the Slate King.
Their fighting was intense as Gareth's men fought with grins and smiles on their faces. Ultimately, the Slate King was repealed before being pushed back before he retreated to safety behind his lines. With no winner emerging and the day starting to close Edwyn called for a retreat which was followed by Brandon, bringing an end to the first day of fighting.