Book 3 (A Storm of Swords Part 1)
Days pasted as Tamina rode she knew only one place the watch would be and she hoped they were still there.
The Fist of the First Men towered over everything within miles of it so it was hard to miss. Tamina began her long ride up the steep icy hill. When she neared the top she decided to give the horse a break and walk the rest of the way leading the horse behind her.
Tamina stood still when she saw it, she couldn't move or breathe when she reached the top, it was a massacre. The slaughtered bodies covered the pure white snow, Tamina walked among the bodies observing the men's faces and was grateful that she couldn't recognise anyone but she did remember some. Tamina wondered if the rest weren't among the dead, then where were they.
Then over the dead silence she heard a groan so she followed it until she came to more dead bodies but then something pulled at her dress. A boy no younger than her just barely opened his eyes to look at her, every inch of him covered in blood from the cuts on his body and the fatal open wound on his stomach. Tamina bent down and tried to help but the boy nudged her away, "There's no use, the Gods are taking me now" the boy said with a hoarse voice as blood ran down his chin when he coughed. "Who did this to you?" Tamina whispered as she held the boy's head on her lap giving him comfort before his time came. The boy froze remembering the battle when his fellow brothers were cut down in front of him and then when one of the monsters came after him. "They weren't men, they were monsters with their cold dead skin and glowing blue eyes, they were disgusting creatures that felt nothing as they cut down the men" said the boy drifting further away, Tamina knew exactly what he was talking about the creature that attacked her that night back at the wall. Tamina smiled down at the boy "It's ok they can't hurt you anymore" she smiled, "At least the last thing I see from this world is something beautiful" he said with his last breath as he left the world while staring up at Tamina.
Tamina looked down at the boy with sadness as she closed the his eyes and placed his head gently in the snow, the dead laid quiet around her she was alone and unsure of what to do. Tamina lifted herself from the ground and scanned the dead faces once more, she couldn't recognize anyone but how could she, they were just butchered bodies. The horse was beginning to struggle against the eerie feel of the dead around it, Tamina could feel it too. She began to walk to her horse but then it started to kick and wail as if it was spooked by something behind her and without any warning she was knocked to ground welcoming the darkness that consumed her.
It's a dream Tamina thought I am dreaming but as the pounding in her head grew she knew that this was real and that she did not want to face the person who had thrown her to the ground as she knew it would not be a friend. Tamina slowly opened her eyes but only until they still appeared close, she couldn't see anyone but that was because her vision was blurred caused by her head and so she opened her eyes wide. Tamina sensed there was no one near her which caused her to panic as she fell surrounded by the corpses of the nightswatch. She slowly raised her head which caused her to see why she couldn't feel anyone's presence.
There they were. The dead. Now living. Standing around her and watching. She held her breath as she stood struggling to keep balance; she turned to keep watch of them all afraid they would attack at any moment and prepared herself until one stepped forward. Where Tamina's horse was standing a tall, icy skeleton appeared with what little flesh he had barley clinging to bone. He came closer and closer to Tamina who was nearly falling over her own feet as she backed away from the monster. She pulled out her dagger which made him freeze on the spot, look to the dagger and then back to Tamina. He unexpectedly stepped aside which caused Tamina to hold her breath once again as she cautiously walked around the monster. She walked all the way to her horse and none of them moved even when she was on top of her horse they just stared at her. Tamina was at the bottom of the Fist when she heard the piercing screech from the top; she dug her heels into the sides of her horse and rode into the trees.
Tamina kept riding afraid they would follow, she couldn't believe what had just happened and was more confused then she had ever been, why didn't they kill me she thought. She slowed her pace down when she believed she was safe, suddenly she could hear something moving near her.
Tamina got down from her horse and took her dagger from her pocket. She was surrounded by trees so it was hard to look everywhere at once, her heart pounded in her chest and her breaths turned shallow. She turned and saw the cause of the noise, a young woman stumbled from behind the trees she was scared and trembling, Tamina let out a sigh of relief and lowered her dagger. "Who are you?" asked Tamina as she slowly approached the girl careful not to scare her even more, "V…Val…Vala" said the girl her words coming from her chattering teeth, Tamina took a small blanket from the bag attached to the horse and gave to the girl. "What are you doing out here?" asked Tamina while she observed the girl's tattered clothes and the obvious bruise on the side of her face, "I need help, my husband was murdered by these men and now they got my sisters and daughters, a lot of us got away but I can't find any of em" Vala cried. Anger overcame Tamina. "Take me to these men" Tamina said coldly.
It didn't take long until the hut came into view, Vala stayed with the horse so it wouldn't alert the men inside. Tamina made her way closer to the hut she could see the bodies of men and women half buried in snow as she walked, most had been stripped of their clothes. Only equipped with a dagger she knew she needed something bigger that's when she saw the rusted axe buried into one man's skull. Vala didn't know how many men were inside but Tamina didn't care she was going to save whoever she could.
She walked up to the hut, hearing the roar of drunkenness laughter inside, At least I'll have an advantage she thought as she ripped down the fabric blocking the entrance, to reveal the four men in black surrounded by more dead bodies and scared young girls that had been stripped of their clothes. All four men turned to her while she stood there shocked they're men of the nightswatch she thought gripping the axe closer to her side. She froze as she saw the still body of the great Commander Mormont lying near the pit of fire, seeing the flames flicker in his cold, dead eyes forced tears to well in hers, forcing them away her face tightened with anger and she turned her attention back to the men.
One smiled through rotten teeth "Well look who it is, the little princess is far from the wall" the man laughed pushing a girl from his lap.
"All alone too" said a man who Tamina recognised to be Rast. Rast looked down at Commander Mormont's body and then back to Tamina. "I'm the one that shove a sword in his back, the old fool" He laughed pointing at his body "Commander Mormont isn't here to come and rescue ya anymore girl."
"Or that bastard Snow either he's freezing his cock off somewhere out there, I can show ya what a real man is" another one said grabbing the front of his pants.
"Why don't ya come closer and let's see what ya hiding under those pretty clothes" the closest man to Tamina said moving his hand to the tie on her dress. Tamina shot him a sly smile.
The man screamed as the dagger sliced through his fingers, Tamina watched as they fell to the ground and then sent the axe straight into the man's skull. The other men stood in shock as they saw their brother fall to the ground, Tamina hurled the axe through the air and hit another one in the chest knocking him off his feet dead. The other man ran at Tamina and forced her out into the snow, she kicked and struggled and threw the man off her, she scrambled to find something and sitting in the snow was a large stone. As the man struggled to his feet he was thrown to the ground once again by the blow of the stone, Tamina didn't stop until the blood stained the snow and that she felt her revenge was satisfied.
Rast coward on the other side of the fire when Tamina entered, blood covering her hands, she grabbed him by the root of his hair and pulled him down just over the burning pit. "Please, please don't, no, please" Rast pleaded tears sliding down his face. "Who's squealing like a pig now?" Tamina said before pushing Rast's face into the fire, watching him squirm and shriek. She slit his throat ending the suffering he deserved.
Tamina assured the young girls that they were safe and that no one would hurt them while she was there. She could see they were afraid of her, even she was afraid of herself, she had killed before but not with so much blinded rage, Tamina felt as if she wasn't the one in control of her body while it happened. Vala was reunited with her sisters and daughters and they all thanked Tamina but now looked to her for what to do next, the girls started to panic and ask questions but Vala told them they would be fine on their own. Tamina was still worried about them especially the younger girls but Vala gave Tamina a reassuring smile while she led her outside to her horse. Tamina stopped where she stood "There's something I must do first" said Tamina turning back to the hut.
The fire burned bright and high as it engulfed the burning remains, Tamina watched alone and silently said her goodbyes to Commander Mormont. He was like the father Tamina never had and he had the displeasure of dying by a coward's hand. "And now his watch has ended" she whispered.
Tamina left the women at the hut to build their new lives, she hated the thought of leaving them but that was their wish. The night swept through the frozen land and Tamina wanted to keep going she had given up hope of finding Jon but she hoped that him and the others were safe and weren't somewhere out there freezing. Tamina was cautious as the horse moved through the blanket of trees not knowing if it was safe she held her dagger close. All of a sudden the horse let out a painful cry and collapsed to the ground the force throwing Tamina as well, as she hit the ground her head struck a rock causing blood to pour down her face and her senses to decrease.
When Tamina opened her eyes all she could see were dark figures rushing over to where she laid, without a second thought with the little fight she had left in her she scrambled to her feet and raised her dagger just in time to hold them back. Her vision revealed four men dressed in dirty furs with bows and swords all smiling as they stared, Tamina saw that her horse was shot by an arrow and with that distraction another one snuck up behind her and pulled her back by her hair making her drop her knife and yield. "Men!" a loud shout came from the top of a small snow mount, they turned as well as Tamina to see people standing with lit torches, the man that called stood ahead of the group. "What is this" he called, "A girl" the one holding Tamina said, "A very pretty girl" another said. Over the quiet whispers of the people Tamina heard it, she heard her name. "Tamina?" said a voice causing Tamina to focus what little sight she had on the person and then she recognised him. "Jon! Jon is that you?" cried Tamina wanting to break free of the tight grasp around her. All eyes were on Jon now especially Tamina's as she saw he was dressed like one of them. "Do ya know this girl?" said a woman with hair the colour of fire that was by his side, Jon was quiet as he thought of what to say next until another spoke up. "Tamina? Princess Tamina?" said another voice from within the group, a man stepped forward moving closer into view, at first Tamina had no idea who he was but as she stared longer a face she used to know started to appear. "Richard?" she whispered as tears welled in her eyes. She gazed at the man her brother had become and she couldn't believe he was alive, her body went heavy and her eyes started to close, she let her body fall until someone caught her before she hit the ground, she welcomed the darkness.
Bright light and blank faces. She was here again. Re-living the nightmare. The nightmare she had longed to forget, there he was, on his ice cold throne staring down at her, the king, her father. He slowly walked down the steps, the once sickly and weak man for years had turned to stone in anger as he set his eyes on Tamina. The people stood there and watched that's all they did, no one moved, no one stopped him, they watched the king beat a helpless girl, his own daughter. She screamed for help, she pleaded for it to end. The noise and the pain flooded back to Tamina as the first hit rained down. "Father stop, please stop!" Tamina screamed.
She awoke in a jerk and grabbed a hand that was near her face not knowing what was happening, she saw a woman sitting beside her that was tending to her wounds, she slowly let go and apologized, the woman was frightened at first but a smile soon appeared on her lips. "It's alright, how are you feeling?" the woman asked, "I have felt better" Tamina laughed making her head ache, "I'm Dalla, it's an honour to meet a princess" she smiled, "Thank you for helping me" said Tamina as she watched Dalla remove the blood soaked cloth from Tamina's head and replace it with a new one, Dalla suddenly gasped. "Are you alright?" Tamina asked with a worrying look, "Oh yes the baby is a tad restless today" Dalla said with a reassuring smile, "Oh, you and your husband must be very happy?" Tamina said sitting upright on the bed. "We are very happy, he wanted to see you after you woke up, he wanted me to bring you to him" Dalla said looking worried, Tamina looked on Dalla with an unsure look. "My husband is Mance Rayder the King beyond the wall".
Tamina entered the tent with her hands bound and her head still aching. She walked up to where Mance was sitting next to him was her brother Richard and to the side she could see Jon. Dalla moved past Tamina and stood next to her husband, Mance stood in respect for Tamina which she found strange. "Its an honour to have you in our presence princess" he smiled bowing his head. Tamina stared at the man she hated him and didn't trust him "I am sorry but I do not believe that statement" she sad coldly. He looked wounded which made Tamina smile.
"What are you doing all the way out here" asked Mance, "That is none of your concern" Tamina said feeling hurt as she looked to her brother and Jon, "Speak bitch! ya should be thankful your alive" a man named Rattleshirt said stepping forward, "You killed my horse while I was passing through, you keep me here when all I want to do is go, why should I be thankful?" Tamina said her anger building, "I just want to ask you some questions" Mance asked looking calm and if he only wanted answers, "What do I know that you so desperately need" Tamina asked fighting back tears as she couldn't take her eyes off her brother. "You have a lot of cuts and bruises for someone who was just passing through, How did you survive the cold? How did you survive the dead men? And how do you know this boy?" he asked pointing to Jon who was caught off guard, "You know I won't talk" she said looking straight at Mance, "I'll fuckin make ya talk" Rattleshirt said raising his sword to her. "Rattleshirt! step away from her" shouted Mance, "I swear to the gods if any harm comes to me you wont just have to worry about the nightswatch you'll have another army breathing down your neck" Tamina said with confidence. "The nightswatch is dead they perished on the Fist" Rattleshirt said laughing at the thought, Tamina knew that she hoped they didn't. "But you already know that don't you" Mance said after seeing Tamina's reaction "I think you know a lot of things princess, I wont let you go just yet, I think you should rest and recover and we can try this again" Mance said waving his hand signalling the Tamina be taken back to her tent, Tamina shot her brother and Jon a hatful look she hated them, they joined them and left her.
The only people left in the tent was Mance, Dalla, Richard, Rattleshirt and Jon as Mance wanted to keep Jon close after what had happened. "How are ya gonna get that bitch to talk Mance?" said Rattleshirt as he sat and drank, "Shut ya mouth I may be one of you but she's still my sister" Richard suddenly spoke up, "Listen here boy, nothing is stopping me from shoving this sword up ya arse, speak to me like that again and I'll fuck ya with it" Rattleshirt said the tension rising between the two. "Men please I have to think about this" Mance said taking a seat, Dalla placed a hand on his shoulder, "Let her go my love she's done no wrong, she wants to go home" Dalla smiled as Mance placed a hand on her swelling stomach, Jon smiled when he saw them. "Don't let the bitch go, throw to the men, that'll make her talk" Rattleshirt laughed "That would make her talk" Mance said thinking about what Rattleshirt had just said. Dalla, Jon and Richard all exchanged horrified looks, "You can't" Jon spoke, all eyes were on him, Mance rose from his seat and walked over to Jon and held him by the back of his neck "Word of caution don't tell me what I can and can't do" Mance smiled and slapped Jon on the back as if he was joking but Jon knew he was dead serious. Dalla nearly had tears in her eyes "Husband please listen to me" Dalla pleaded, "Dalla please leave the tent" Mance said calmly watching his wife with cold eyes, Dalla closed her eyes, bowed her head and left.
"You have to go" Dalla cried as she came through the entrance of the tent, Tamina was confused, "Why?" Tamina asked looking into Dalla's worrying eyes that darted back and forth from Tamina to the door. Dalla grabbed Tamina by her arms forcing Tamina to look at her "You have to listen to me; I don't know what my husband is going to do with you, he looks after his family not strangers, he might give in to Rattleshirt and have you raped so you will talk, I can't witness that not if I can stop it" Dalla said, Tamina was shocked and could see real worry in her face she couldn't understand why she was doing this. "You're his wife he would have to listen to you wouldn't he?" Tamina asked, "Things are done differently here, women are strong there's not doubt in that but we are not leaders" Dalla smiled faintly, "Well maybe they should be" said Tamina with a determined look. People stirred outside causing Dalla's heart to race as she expected her husband to walk in.
Dalla spotted the small knife she used tending to Tamina's wounds and plunged it into the back of the tent, making a way for Tamina to escape. Tamina turned to Dalla "Why are you doing this? Your one of them" whispered Tamina, wanting answers. "Richard told me all about his life at home, he said many horrible things about you" Dalla paused, she could see the hurt washing over Tamina's face "But being around us change the way he talked about you, he never meant it Tamina his lips told the story but his eyes showed the truth, I wouldn't have believed what he said anyway" Dalla smiled a smile that Tamina had never seen, the warm comforting smile of a motherly figure.
Dalla couldn't see anything through the tear so she handed Tamina a candle from the table, it was small but it was better than being blind in the dark. Tamina looked at Dalla she wasn't like the rest; she was risking herself helping her. "Thank you" Tamina whispered as she climbed out of the rip in the tent and ran off into the darkness avoiding any eyes. Dalla emerged from the tent and made her way over to where the other women were gathered, some time had passed before Mance and the others appeared making their way to the tent. Dalla heard a commotion coming from the tent, Mance came out looking furious, Dalla could feel his eyes on her like he knew, she watched as the wildlings ran out into the forest lead by Tormund Giantsbane to go look for her. Dalla hoped that Tamina got away.
Tamina knew the candle wouldn't last with the wind so in a rush she managed to find the materials she needed to make a torch, but then she heard the faint noise of men's voices in the distance they were coming for her. She ran as fast as she could causing her head to ache, they were gaining on her; she decided hiding would be her best option. Luckily she found a hollowed out tree hidden by branches and bushes; she pushed past the branches and climbed inside, she could hear their voices clear now. Tamina watched as the dark silhouettes of the wildlings past the tree, she prayed to the Old Gods to keep her safe, her thoughts were drowned out from the loud shouting.
"Let's go back well never find er in the dark" shouted one.
"Tormund, leave er to rot she'll die just fine on er own" one yelled to Tormund who was standing closest to the tree where she hid.
"I was lookin forward to a good fuck, never had meself a maid before" one said to Tormund making him laugh.
"Yer not gettin one anytime soon mate" Tormund scanned the trees deciding on whether to go back or go further, "Turn back! Leave er to the wolves or worse" Tormund called to the others. She waited to make sure they had truly gone before emerging from the tree, her head was now throbbing, she needed to rest but she couldn't out here so she kept moving but she didn't get far.
The trees felt as if they were spinning while she tried desperately to take her next step in the thick snow, her head pounded making it harder to concentrate where she was going. No she thought if I am to die, I shall not die here, her foot struck a stone causing her to fall and the torch to fly into the damp snow leaving her in darkness. She fell in and out of consciousness until finally her body collapsed into the soft mount of snow; everything was quiet as she fell into a deep sleep.
'Crunch….Crunch…..Crunch'
There was a sound in the distance although there was no one to hear it. It was the sound of footsteps of someone approaching the still body lying in the snow, the figure emerged from the trees and leaned over the young girl before taking her from the ground. She was carried up the hill and through icy branches until the trees revealed a treasure hidden within, the Kingdom beyond the wall. The castle stood tall over-looking the frozen sea, it was pure and untouched, it looked like the walls were made from ice. The figure ran his gaze over the motionless girl observing her cuts from the trees; he turned his attention back to the castle and stepped out of the shadows, revealing his glowing eyes. The White walker carried Tamina closer to her home and further away from any more harm.
Authors Note: Hey everyone I'm so sorry for how long this has taken just so much writers block and putting my vision to paper was HARD! and also I just started Year 12 last year of high school so I will try my best to update a lot more faster :) So as you can see the rating has gone up to M as swearing has came into it and gore sort of? and later on other stuff will come into it to.
So there's a lot of strange stuff going on with the whitewalkers hmmm and it gets better!
And I am HORRIBLE at writing fight scenes it sounded a lot better in my head haha
Also by what you read Rast gets what was always coming for him haha and justice for Sam with the pig comment I thought that would fit nicely :)
And also Dun dun dunnnn Brother Richard is alive! been hiding out with the wildlings all this time!
If you have any questions about stuff that you don't understand just ask but NO SPOILERS even if you ask nicely NO! :P
Review please! 3