A/N: GRRM owns all.

Chapter 14 James II

James

He had never had this dream before.

It was a dream that reminded him of a time past, when he was still a black brother of the Night's Watch. He and Val had escaped one night from Castle Black to go to Mole Town. They had bought a room for the night, so they could both be alone. Their relationship was not news to any men of the Watch, often putting a strain between him and Jon. Jon was Lord Commander at the time, and wanted to be the best at it. The Others had been defeated, the free folk and the rest free, but still Val stayed with James as long as her people were welcome in Castle Black. The black brothers always tried to watch James when he was with Val, but this night was different.

In his dream Val was as beautiful as he remembered. He could feel her arms wrapped about him while they rode down to Mole Town. He could smell her hair, almost hear the braid slapping against his back. James would never mind, he liked that braid. When they arrived at the inn they made love as they used to, which usually resulted in James having scratches on his back. But in his dream, the night was different. Val was angry with him and words left unsaid were said in this dream. Words that Val should have said when they departed from each other.

"Do you love me?" Her voice was soft when it had been iron. "Do you, James?"

"Yes."

"What would happen if you left me?" she asked, James could not see her face in this dream.

"I'd not be able to live."

She sighed. "That is not true. You will find another."

"I never could."

"You will, and I'll become a distant memory…"

James could recall stroking her hair. "No, I won't. I'll never leave you…"

"But you did," she said, her voice faint. "You left me for a dragon and a promise."

"You wanted to be with your people."

"I wanted to be with you, but you wanted honor."

"I did not know what I wanted."

"I did," she said. "I wanted children with you, and now I've gotten my wish.."

It was then that James woke up to a shake and he saw Jon looking over him. James rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked up at his good-brother. Jon was wearing all black, save the Targaryen brooch on his collar, and his hair was black and tangled, his beard of the same shade. James sat up in the bed and looked at him. "Is there any news of Ned?"

Jon shook his head. "Not since I saw him, no."

"There must be something." Jon had told him that he met with Ned at night with Robert. Val had taken Ned to see them, to show that he was alive and well. When Jon first told him, James almost felt like wringing his neck. He should have been there, he told Jon many a time. But Jon said that there was no way he would have let Ned leave a second time. He was right. James doubted he would've been able to restrain himself. He is still alive and that is all that matters. Dany will be very happy.

"All we can do is wait."

Jon's face brightened. "Finally he sees reason."

James shoved him away and sat up from the bed, throwing on a tunic. He turned around to Jon. "I am still a father at heart, Jon. You cannot blame me for that…"

Jon shook his head. "No, I cannot. I am a father myself, if you have forgotten."

James sniggered and sat down. He grabbed his boots and began to lace them up. "No, I have not. I cannot help but remember sweet Marissa when I left Winterfell."

The smile was small on Jon's face. "How was she?"

"She's grown bigger since you last saw her, Jon. And she will be beautiful when she's older, I can already tell."

"As any daughter of Sansa would be."

James shook his head and finished lacing up his boots. He made for the door. "Ready to break our fast?"

"I would have another moment," Jon bid of him.

James turned to face him. "Dark wings, dark words?"

"But these wings are from the North."

"But we are in the North…" Then it hit him. "News from Val?"

Jon nodded. "Yes. Another message in the night…"

"How does she keep getting these messages in?"

His cousin shrugged. "Not sure…but she does."

James took the message in hand and saw that it was in her small writing. He could remember teaching her to read and write. How much of an ordeal it was because of her free folk blood. He shook his head at the memory and began to read."Is it real?" James asked.

"It is her writing," Jon said. James read over it again. He had not seen Val's writing for years, the one he taught her to form. She had been stubborn at it. James could remember teaching her by candlelight - hours and hours having her read it aloud, writing it as well. Val hated him for it. She would curse him, call him names, tell him she hated this. James could only shake his head and say it was just the blood of the free folk that made her so stubborn. As stubborn as a Stark, James had thought at the time. Often he teased her for it.

Suddenly as he read the message, James thought on the love he once shared with this woman. That has come to pass like yesterday's sun. But still those memories could not be erased so easily, nor did James want them to. He loved that woman, despite her stubborn will and nature. She kept him grounded, made him a better man, yet in the end James married Daenerys. He had never met another woman besides Val, but in the end she did not compare to the mother of dragons. "I still cannot believe it," James admitted to Jon.

"It is not a trap." Jon scratched his beard and flexed his hand, James saw. "I know that she truly wants to speak with you, James."

"She still loves me." James crumpled up the message slightly.

"Can you blame her?"

James sniffed. "She should hate me…"

"But she doesn't."

"And why is that?"

Jon shrugged. "Who knows. Perhaps she never got over you, in a sense."

"She chose her people over me."

"You both had no choice," Jon reminded him. "She did not want to leave her people; you were a brother of the Night's Watch. You had your vows, she her people. It was not meant to be, James."

"Yet many a time I saw the family we could have shared. A child of her hair and my eyes, or my features as well. Who knows…"

"You'll never know. You married Daenerys and had five beautiful children, is that not more than we both ever hoped for? When the night's were cold…"

"Yes," he whispered. "More then I ever thought the gods would grant me."

"They at least granted us this little measure of happiness after all that has befallen the Stark family."

James sniffed. "I used to think we were cursed…after my father was murdered by Joffrey and Cersei. After Robb began to win every battle he's fought, only to lose his head…"

"…After all we went through, we still have each other. And now the Stark name will carry on forever."

"It will." James handed him back the message. "Tell her I will be there."

Jon put the message back in his pocket. "She shall be waiting for you, no matter if you go or not."

"You're right." He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "What are we to do, Jon?"

"In regards to…"

"…To Mance Rayder. I just want to go home. I miss Rhaenys, I miss Dany, I miss Rhaegar. I miss them all. I'm too old for this. I should be watching my children grow, holding my grandchild, watching Ned become a man. I should not be here in this frozen waistland, waiting for my son to be delivered to me like a piece of meat." James crumbled the message in his hands in anger.

Jon strode up to him and placed both hands on his shoulders. In this moment James saw how much he looked like Lord Eddard. If only you'd learn, James…he could hear his father saying in his head again. Lord Eddard's were icy, his eyes clouded like a morning fog, but his heart was always warm for his children. James never doubted that he had been a good father. "In war one does what one must." Jon gave them a squeeze. He even sounded like James's father. "Father always told us so."

Even now he still calls him father, James noted. He wouldn't have it any other way. "You sound like him."

Jon gave a small laugh. "I always listened to him."

"I never did."

"You did…whether they took hold or not, remained to be seen."

"They did, but it was later in life."

"Daenerys…"

"Aye."

Jon gave his shoulder a firm slap. "Did you tell her about Ned?"

"No," James said with a shake of his head. "I have yet to."

"Write her after we break our fast. It might do you some good."

That's what happened soon after. James combed his hair and followed Jon outside, two Stark men following behind them. They kept guards around them, even though they felt they needed no guards around the northmen. It was not the northmen James worried about, but the black brothers. They were growing impatient with each passing day. Most clamored for blood, some hated being at the whims of Mance, but most wanted the former. James wanted it too. Whatever I must do to go home. But even that did not seem on the horizon and it was all keenly felt. Bran was losing his lords, the Lord Commander Mormont his own men, even Gendry was pressing to leave. It was only Tyrion and James who had noticed that the wildlings were pressing now.

It was just a matter of time before battle was upon them.

The night Ned was taken was only the beginning. James was there atop the Wall when the wildlings sent that scouting party…if you could call it that. They ran at the Wall without a void and care, too few in number to make a true difference. The archers that patrolled the Wall made quick work of them. No catapults had to be loaded. James watched beside Bran as the arrows hissed up at the air, coming down upon the wildlings like a rain of black death. The raiders dropped like flies, and soon littered the ground. The next day some more came, and some more and more. James knew this was just the beginning. Soon their numbers would increase until Mance ordered an all-out attack on Castle Black. But there was another thing they had to attend to.

After James broke his fast he went with Tyrion and Jon towards the Shadow Tower. Lord Manderly's other son Wylis who was now lord was holding it, and they had to make inspections. Bran had sent them, for he needed Gendry and Rickon with him should anything happen. James doubted something would. The three men huddled in their best furs, took fifty men with them, and made for the tower. It was at the far end of the Wall and near the mountains, so it would take half the day to get there. Along the way James was at the helm with Tyrion and Jon beside him. Behind him the men formed into a column atop their horses, holding banners of house Stark in their hands. It was cold this day and the winds were rising, but the snow was light and non existent.

There was no respite on this march. James wanted to be back at Castle Black before the night fell over the sky so he could meet with Val. It was what plagued his thoughts for most of the day. This would be the first time he was alone with her for years. He had only spoken to her the day she came to treat with Mance in his name. Val was still beautiful after so many years, this James could not deny. When he saw her he was nervous like a green boy, but she made him feel at ease with her smile. It almost felt like a betrayal to Daenerys to find Val still a beauty. Daenerys would be angry with jealousy, James thought at the time. His wife had always been the jealous type, and often that jealousy got in the way of thinking. Ros is proof of that.

When they arrived at the Shadow Tower, Lord Wylis Manderly was waiting for them with his men who were guarding the tower. Bran had most of the towers along the Wall manned again - well those that were still fit to be manned. He had patrols along most of it as well. Jon had warned him that Mance would attempt at scaling the Wall again, so Bran took precautions. He had many patrols at night walking sections of the Wall. Sometimes they'd take shifts with the rangers - those that could be spared, at least. James thought it a good idea. It would be easily and painless for Mance to scale the Wall at night, open a gate, and have the wildlings take Castle Black by surprise. Bran knew better. Now it was a matter of waiting…as it was for Mance when James tried to take his life.

Lord Wylis was a quiet man. He was short and fat like his father, soft-spoken and always courteous and formal. He gave James a nod when he saw him into the courtyard of the Shadow Tower. The tower was black and jutted into the sky. Mance would expect this place to be kept unguarded, seeing as not many men could be fit, so Bran expected him to attack here or perhaps attempt to take them by surprise. James just had to make sure the Lord of White Harbor was doing his job.

Jon and Tyrion walked beside him as Lord Wylis showed his defenses upon the Wall. There was fresh gravel laid about for them, James noticed. It seemed that Lord Manderly had prepared beforehand for his arrival. He could sense something amiss, but James was sure this man was doing his job. How hard could it be? He just had to make sure his patrols were doing their job at night, looking out for wildilngs. That was all that was required of him.

James noticed the White Harbor men looked tired. "Are they being fed?" he asked Lord Manderly.

The fat man nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"Then why do they look so tired?" asked Jon.

"These men are coming off their nightly patrol," Lord Wylis explained. "We are abiding by Lord Bran's request to have them look out for those savages." He gave a cough.

"You cannot underestimate those savages," said Tyrion. "Mance Rayder is not as savage as they are. He was a black brother once."

"Yes, Lord Lannister."

"So you understand what you are doing here?" Jon asked. "Should the Shadow Tower be attacked, you are the first line of defense. You must get back to Lord Stark before it is too late."

"If they attack at night, they shall not get past us," Lord Manderly swore. "Most of my men want to go home. They grow tired of this war…"

"As do we all," James said, moving along the gravel. Along the Wall he saw barrels of spears and arrows. Archers were huddled around braziers atop the Wall in groups of five to seven. Some of the men there had spears in hand with daggers on their hips. On their backs some of them carried rounded shields with the merman of Manderly painted upon it. As they moved along most of the men stopped their conversation and gave a dip of their head. James would return it in-kind. Something his father had taught him was that a lord or leader respected his men. These were James's men, no matter that his brother held the title of Lord of Winterfell. He was Bran's second-in-command beside Jon. They respected him.

"Is their morale low?" Jon asked in a whisper.

Lord Wylis leaned toward them, his chin gave a jiggle. "They fear that Lord Stark is letting Mance walk over him. The men want to take the fight to them. They dislike waiting for them like mulling babes."

"They will obey command," Jon said sternly.

The Lord of White Harbor gave a reassuring nod. "Of course, Lord Targaryen. I just want to know how long he deems to wait."

"As long as need be." James let out a cough. "Would you have us attack in open field when we are so outnumbered? They outman us, Lord Manderly, surely you must know that."

"Yes, my lord, but they are savages without proper training or discipline. How could they hold any sort of threat towards true northmen?"

"Underestimating your enemy is a southron trait," James said. "Do not fall prey to it."

"It is the bane of any man," said Tyrion. "Not just men of the South."

"Regardless, my lord," Lord Manderly said, "we cannot wait much longer. Sooner or later we must take the fight to them."

"Words heard before." James shook his head. "We must be patient and wait. The wildlings attack everyday and with greater numbers each time. Mance is letting us know he is in control."

"A fact well known, my lord." Lord Manderly walked them down the icy steps of the Shadow Tower and continued, "Surely we have scouts beyond the Wall. Have we heard any word back?"

"Yes," Jon answered this time. "Scouts report that Mance has divided his forces. The Magnar and Tormund Giantsbane split themselves from Mance, while this King-beyond-the-Wall moved the core of his forces south."

"He is moving towards the Wall?"

James nodded. "Yes. So you see, Lord Manderly, winter is coming."

"You bloody Starks are always right with those words," Tyrion cursed.

Wylis nodded. "Aye, Lord Lannister has the right of it. And why did he split his forces? What does he want Tormund Giantsbabe to do?"

"My guess is climbing the Wall." Jon moved to James's right. "You must keep extensive watch these few days, Lord Wylis."

"Yes, my lord Targaryen. I will have my men rotate more frequently in patrols so they are better rested."

James then said softly, "And should my son be with him, make sure he is spared. I do not want him mistaken for a wildling."

"Of course, Lord Stark. Young Eddard is known well by the men of the North. They love him and respect him, as they did his namesake."

"Gratitude for your kind words." They moved down the steps into the courtyard with their retinue of men now. James and the rest made one last inspection of the camp and left soon after. Before they left Lord Manderly gave them a warm meal along with some sausage, cheese, ale, and water for the road. It would be night by the time they arrived back at Castle Black; just in time for him to see Val. They moved back to the castle with haste (mainly because James wanted to be back soon for Val) and made good time. They ate some of the food Lord Manderly gave them and it was satisfying.

Bran called James, Jon, and Tyrion into his solar when they returned. They found the Lord of Winterfell in his solar in the newly built King's Tower, reading over scrolls of parchment. Bran was brooding in his chair over the brazier, reading. Robert was there with him. The boy was also reading his own scrolls and gave the men a small smile when they entered. James took his seat with them but Bran kept reading. "Interesting reading, my lord?" Tyrion quipped.

Bran glanced up at him from his message. "More news from Winterfell…"

"Dark wings, dark words?" Jon asked.

"Less darker, it would seem." He looked up at them now, James saw the heaviness in his eyes. Bran was in his thirties, but the years were catching up to him. His auburn hair had began to lose his color, and his beard was now catching some strands of grey. The stress of lordship was taking its toll. "Myrcella writes that all has seemed to quell in Winterfell since Cat's attack. Jeyne and her spend their days together most often then not…"

James ground his teeth in anger. "Would that I had been there to take the man's life instead of Jaime. The boy is too young to share such a burden."

"Aye," Jon agreed. "I would have killed the man who put a hand on my daughter…"

Bran sighed. "Jaime writes that he felt honored to defend Cat's life. He says it gives him no issue."

"He's just a boy," James said. "All boys feel that honor and glory when taking their first life."

"Uncle Robb never felt such," said Robert.

"Were you there?" James asked. His tone was a bit too hard for his taste. "Robb never wanted glory. He just wanted to rescue us…"

Robert could only nod. "Yes, I know. Grandmother has told me all there is to know."

"There is another matter at hand," said Bran. "How is the Shadow Tower?"

"Managing as they can," Jon told him. "But Lord Manderly questions your leadership."

Bran raised an eyebrow. "Lord Wylis Manderly? The man never is so outspoken."

"I guess the Wall has changed the man."

"What else did he say?" Bran asked.

"When we would attack Mance."

Bran scoffed. "An old subject. Do they not understand that Mance will attack us first? Already he grows bolder by the day."

"I say we defeat him." Robert raised his eyes to them. "So we can rescue Ned and be done with it."

"That will come in time," Bran urged. "There is nothing we can do for Ned. If everything Jon says is true, then I know he will return to us."

"Yes, but at what cost?" James questioned. "Each day that brings a new sun, I do not know whether he lives or dies…"

"But you still believe him alive?" Robert asked.

"Of course. Any father would absent the lifeless body in front of them. I just wish it for Lya's sake…"

Robert nodded.

Bran said, "And this Val thing, James. Do you still meet with her tonight?"

"Yes. After this I will make my way to see her."

Bran eyed him for a moment. "Find out anything you can. Find out about the horn…"

"I doubt she will tell me anything."

"You never know."

James figured Bran was right. "Mayhaps I shall try…"

And so he did. James returned to his chambers soon after and dressed in black for this night. He combed out his hair, trimmed his beard slightly, cleaned his nails, and went out towards the stables. Val bid for him to meet her outside the gate of Castle Black during the night, when the moon was brightest. James brought a couple of Stark men with him for protection, and made for the tunnel that led to the other side. He knew that Val would never harm him, but…it was just a precaution. It was all he could do since Ned was taken.

The night was black and starry when James arrived outside the Wall. The crickets were chirping, the air was cold, and he huddled himself for warmth. He bid the two Stark soldiers to wait out at the gate for him while he waited for Val. It was a few moments before he saw her step out from the brush on a horse. She was wearing white furs, white breeches, and along with her hair in a single braid over her shoulder. It was how she used to wear her hair around him. Still after so long she can still make me appreciate beauty in this world. Yet James had a wife who was considered very fair herself. Nothing could take him away from Dany's love and the children they shared.

Nothing cut through James so quickly as the smile that she gave him. He only watched as she dismounted her horse and came forward. "James Stark," she announced. "Finally I can be with you alone."

James relaxed. "After so long…"

"Aye," she agreed, "after so long."

Val stepped forward and exhaled. James could see her breath in the cold. "So what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do we shake hands or…"

James couldn't help but chuckle. "If it please, my lady."

She scowled. "I'm not a lady!"

"You haven't changed…"

"But you have." She sighed again. "A wife and five children, is it? How blessed you have been."

"Yes, I have been blessed."

Val stepped forward slightly but James took a step back. She laughed. "I did not come here to harm you, James."

"I know…"

She frowned. "Are the memories so painful?"

I don't think they ever could be. "I don't recall it being as such."

"Words left unsaid."

"That should have been said."

"I could never insult you…"

James sighed and got to it. "Why did you call me here, Val?"

This time she came forward and took his arm, James couldn't help but tense. "You tense at my touch now?" she asked. "I remember a time when you never would."

James had no words.

"I merely wanted to walk with you," she bid of him. "As we used to atop the Wall. Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember. It is just…"

"You love our wife, I know. This dragon wife of yours."

"I'm sorry…"

She hushed him. "You have nothing to apologize for, James Stark. The gods took us along other paths."

James walked with her arm in arm along the Wall. They were both silent for a moment until she said, "There is a reason why I called you here, James. We must speak about a few things…"

"How is he?" James asked before she could reply. "Ned, Val, how is he?"

She smiled again. "You raised that boy right and true, James. Ned is a good lad."

This time he smiled. "Thank you. But how is he?"

"He fairs well under my protection."

"I cannot thank you enough for that."

She looked at him with those grey eyes they shared. "I never need to thank me, James. You know why I did…"

"For the love we once shared."

"And for the child we once dreamed of having."

James felt sad at that. He frowned. "Aye, I know. I took all from you, Val."

"You took nothing. I did not force myself over the Wall. I could've stayed with you."

"And I could have turned a blind eye to my vows as I had done before."

She shook her head. "You had to grow at some point, James. We…we were living in a dream."

"A crow and a free woman. Could it ever have worked?"

"It could have…"

Mayhaps it could, but we shall never know. "So where is Ned now?"

She gripped his hand. "He went with Tormund and the Magnar, James."

"And to what purpose?"

"I cannot tell you."

James exhaled deeply. "Val, tell me."

"I cannot. I may be with you here now, but I still am a woman of the free folk. I will not go against my people…"

James nodded. "Fine. At least tell me what he has done since he was captured."

Val explained all to him. She told him how Mance spoke with Ned, how the boy lied to him, and how he lived with Val. She told him how Tormund liked him, how Rattleshirt and the others hated him, and how Mance almost had him killed for lying. James counted his blessing for that. And finally she told him about Aneira, the red-haired wilding woman that Ned had stolen without thinking. James was shocked and all he could say was, "So he broke his vows?"

Val nodded. "Aye, but he did it to survive. He had to do it."

"That does not sound like my son. His honor…"

"…Makes him stubborn, yes, but he saw the reason. Had he refused Aneira, Mance would have killed him that day. He had no choice…"

"Lyanna will not see it that way."

"So he often tells me."

"Has he felt shame?"

She nodded again as they continued to walk in the snow. "Of courses, James. He tells me that you would've been ashamed of him."

"Aye, I would have had he a choice. But now I see that it was removed. I know he is in pain because of it."

She nodded once more and stopped them. Val turned to him and took his hands suddenly as she used to, and James couldn't help but tense. You have a wife, his mind reminded him. "I know you have a wife," Val said as if she could read his thoughts. "But I must tell you something."

"What is it?" James was nervous.

She exhaled and smoothed the hair from his face. "Your damn hair is still messy as it always was."

James smiled softly as he remembered happy times. "I know how much you liked it that way."

She smiled. "Aye, I did, but you were too stubborn to change it." Val took a breath and looked into his eyes. "I must tell you something that I have held secret for nineteen years. But…there was no way for me to tell you. I didn't want to burden you."

James's eyes grew wide. "What is it?"

Val kissed his cheek suddenly and said, "After so long I still love you, and it is that love which prevented me from seeing a woods witch. After I left the Wall your seed took hold."

Now it hit him. "Are you saying…that we share a child?"

She nodded. "Aye, we do. Her name is Dalla, James. She is nineteen and looks exactly like you."

James felt his heart sink as this revelation crashed over him. Could Val's words be true? Could he actually have a bastard daughter out there beyond the Wall that he never knew about? James figured it was true. Val would not lie, but still he was winded by this. He had always dreamed of sharing a child with Val, always had. But now this news would tear him in two. He had another child of his own in the world which he never had the chance to know. James didn't know what to think. He knew that Daenerys would not like the news, as Lady Catelyn did not like Jon Snow. Yet he knew that Val would not let him meet their daughter, nor would she ever meet Dany or her half-siblings. "I-I don't know what to say…"

Val smiled. "I know. We share a child, James."

"We often talked about such things…"

"Aye, we did. I just felt I should tell you."

"And what will happen now? Is my…daughter here?"

Val shook her head. "She is with Ned, I'm afraid. Dalla and your Ned have grown close, James, they love each other as siblings should. Ned speaks of their siblings and wants her to meet them. The boy is a dreamer."

James sighed. "I would like to meet her…"

"Maybe upon a day, James. Dalla…she is a hard girl and a spearwife. She would be likely to put one through you than speak with you."

"You cannot blame me, Val. I never knew she existed."

"I know, kit. But now you do."

James shook his head. "I hope to meet her upon the day, and not on a battlefield."

Val looked to the sky. "Mayhaps on a day you shall, James. But for now I must get back. Mance let me leave but told me to be back before the hour of the owl. I must go…"

James nodded and took her back to her horse, giving her a final hug before she mounted again. Val turned to him and said, "I'll always love you, James, even though you love another now. I thought you should know that, love." And before James could reply she turned her horse half around and trotted back into the woods. James would have shared the same words with her, had she given him the chance. But he sensed that she feared his reply.

The next day they attacked again.

James had just finished writing a raven to his Dany when the war horn began to blow. He was writing Dany about Val and Dalla. He knew that she should know about her, but was afraid of the result. James asked how their children was doing and told her that he loved her and their babies. Dany was still his heart. He strapped on his armor and sword, running to the top of the Wall with Jon and Tyrion behind him. When they reached the top they saw the men in formation. Archers were lined up in neat rows knocking bows, while spearmen were behind them. From the top James could see men forming up in the courtyard and the tunnel, preparing for heavy fighting within there. James knew that choke point could be used for their advantage. He did not expect what awaited him atop the Wall.

Raiders had come out from the woods in hundreds. James saw spearmen and women alike, moving out of the woods in force. They were brandishing their weapons and yelling, and he even saw a ram coming forth made of oak. James noticed they were too few in number to pose a true threat. They will be slaughtered. He came up beside Bran. "How many, brother?"

"Three hundred by the looks," said Bran. "Too small to be the true force, but more then we have ever seen. They will be defeated quickly."

"What would you have of me?"

"You, Jon, and Rickon will lead the archers in their attack. I would have Gendry and Tyrion man the catapults. I would end this quickly."

James nodded and went to his duty. He stood atop the Wall with Rickon, Jon and the Northmen behind them. Jon had given the order to knock bows and James watched as the wildlings creeped closer as slow as turtles. Rickon handed him a bow and quiver filled with arrows, and Jon did the same. Soon the first catapults fired their shots and it began.

The rocks moved in the air and slammed into the enemy below. The wildlings gave shrieks in reply but kept moving. Soon each moment "fire!" would be yelled and "reload!" and the catapult rocks would be sent flying into the sky to slam into them. But still the wildlings kept moving. They moved so slow and when they got close, James and the archers knocked their bows.

"Take aim!" Jon ordered. "Wait…wait…loose!"

The arrows hissed in the air by the thousands, and it covered out the morning sun. James let his go and watched as they arched in the sky and rained down upon the willdlings. Many made their mark and most of them fell. He saw a woman scream in pain as one stuck out of her neck. He saw a man hit in the chest, another the leg, another the arm, another in the chest. It was slaughter. James reloaded his shot and took aim once more as he prepared for the next volley. "Fire!" Jon ordered again.

Another volley was sent and the wildlings fell in mass. This time more wounded were upon the field and they were groaning in pain. Now he knew that it was over. "Fire at will!" Jon said this time.

James reloaded his shot and knocked back his bow, aiming at the men who were moving the ram. He let loose his shot and saw it hit a man in the head, he fell over without a scream. Soon the sky was filled out with arrows and rock alike, making their mark. The wildlings were brave, he knew, but they lacked real discipline and fighting. They continued to move forward as the hissing filled the air, and more and more wounded laid strewn with the dead. James reloaded and fired as much as he could. He would make his mark most of the time, yet some of them would miss. The northern and black brothers beside them began to count out when they made their mark, as if it was a game. "One!" some would yell. "Twenty!" another said. "Fourteen!" said another. "Twenty-five!" another counted. Soon wagers were being thrown around along with laughs, cries, and jests. It was just a game to them.

Soon the numbers were so low that the gate was opened and the northern calvary moved out to finish them. Some threw down their weapons, others fought back, but it was too much. James watched the slaughter by the Greatjon who was hollering and wielding his giant sword. They ran down the survivors and Bran finally said, "Spare those who surrender. Tend to the wounded who surrender as well. Kill those who try to harm you."

James went out with his brothers onto the field when it was over. The bodies were littered everywhere along with the arrows. They covered the snow like needles sticking out of a porcupines back, but the stench was what got him. It smelled of blood, sweat, and death. Northmen were out there tending the dead. They were stacking them in giant piles to burn later because there was no where to put them. The battering ram they used was set to the torch as well. The wounded would cry out in pain and the army maesters, medics, and Maester Lucas would attend to them. Some men with arrows in their legs sat up against the Wall, some women as well. But there were still so many dead and others who would rather die then surrender. Many had tried to take up sword but were killed instantly.

James walked the field alone, looking for any sign of Ned among them. Even though he believed what Val told him, he had to be sure. He walked over a man whose brains had been destroyed by a catapult rock and another whose head had an arrow sticking from it. He walked by two men were moving a corpse when he saw a girl whose hair was as red as fire. She called out to him. "Crow!" she murmed. "Crow…" her voice was weak.

James ran over to her side and knelt in the snow. "I'm no crow. What is your name?"

He lifted her head slightly and saw she had two arrows in her chest and another in her leg. She had blood coming out her mouth as well. "My name…my name is Aneira. What is yours?"

Aneira…the girl that Ned had stolen. "James Stark."

He saw her face slightly beam. "James Stark…your Ned's father." She spit up blood.

"You mustn't speak. I will get the maester."

The girl shook her head and all James could see was his niece Jeyne in her face. It made him sad. "No, Ned's father," she said, coughing up more blood. "Just tell Ned I love him…"

James nodded and cradled her head in his arms as she died.