Chapter 14- The Wolves of Winterfell
Author's Note: Hey all! Guess what? In two months, I have done two chapters. The second one, I'm nearly done with so should be here in a few days!
Now, Carroth has led the iron born straight to Winterfell. Merlin must rally behind the Starks to defend his new home, but at what cost? Will he have to reveal his magic?
For those who want to know, Jon carries out a kimura lock on Carroth and Masanori executes a guillotine choke- both can be devastating. I seem to putting a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu move or submission in every other chapter now!
Please do not forget to leave a review, tell me what you think, or what you think is going to happen. :)
MERLIN
"What's wrong? How are you here?" Merlin asked the boy in front of him, the boy who up until now he thought had drowned with his mother and sister. Were they OK, or was he the only survivor? How had he survived? How had he survived for so long? How did he know where to find them? It was at this moment when Merlin's heart froze; he realised that Carroth had looked like he had seen a ghost, as if he was terrified of him.
"What have you done?" he demanded.
"I'm sorry, I had to," Carroth pleaded.
The ground convulsed and the stable lit up in flame, splinters of wood rained down like droplets of a firestorm, expelling the cries of a stampede of horses that ran out for dear life.
Jon, Merlin and Carroth had fallen to the ground, but Merlin was quick to leap at Carroth and grip his arms with possessed strength. "What have you done?" he demanded more forcefully.
"Just surrender Freya, trust me, just do it," Carroth said.
"What have you done?" Merlin demanded. He only had to look on as a group of men pulled off some cloaks and hoods from their heads. A line of servants- three females and four males, froze in horror. Merlin could only watch on as the first group of men drew swords and lunged at the servants, their screams piercing the night as they were stabbed and murdered.
Merlin, Jon and Carroth jumped to their feet.
"We have to warn the others!" Merlin shouted, he then regretted that as two of iron born pirates, for Merlin knew who they were, came running towards them, their blades dirty with fresh blood.
"Shit!" Jon swore, looking at his sword, before adopting a fighting stance. "Merlin get behind me!"
Merlin focused on the pirate that was coming towards him, he focused on his boot getting stuck in the ground, and it did. The pirate's momentum caused him to fall flat on his stomach.
He turned to see Jon blocking to meet the other pirate's sword. "Is that all you got, you stupid child?" The pirate shoved Jon back, who stumbled but kept his balance and met his attacker's thrust with a parry and counter for the next few moments, before smacking the pirate on the knee; the pirate grunted but carried on. Jon was fighting with a blunted blade, Merlin realised.
The warlock inhaled and focused his mind on the pirate slowing down his downwards slash, which gave Jon ample opportunity to kick the pirate in the groin. Merlin dashed over to the pirate and ended up throwing a kick straight into his chin, knocking him out cold. Merlin ignored the shocked look on Jon's and Carroth's faces as he scooped up the pirate's sword, before giving it to Jon and asking him to swap.
Carroth made a beeline, Merlin was too shocked to respond, but Jon darted after him and grabbed Carroth's right wrist, shoving him down. Merlin only heard a groan of pain and Jon was on top of Carroth, who was lying on his left side, with Jon's left hand locking on Carroth's right wrist like a wolf locking his jaws on his prey. Jon's right arm was snaked around Carroth's trapped arm and secured on Jon's own wrist.
"Aaaargh!" Carroth cried out, as Jon twisted his arm. "Please, stop! I'll do anything!"
"Who are these people, and how many are there?" Jon demanded.
"Iron born warriors, I can't say for sure… maybe ninety or a hundred," Carroth said.
"Yaaargh!" roared the pirate who Merlin had tripped a minute ago. He made to dash for them, but Merlin blocked with his blunted sword before matching a few slashes. The pirate shoved Merlin back, who sprawled hard but realised his mistake when the pirate struck from the top, before Merlin could react, the pirate was tripped back and impaled through the chest by Masanori, who had a graze under his left eye. Merlin looked on to see three of his retainers dueling with a numer of iron born.
"Get back inside and warn Lord Stark, tell him it's happened!" Masanori ordered.
Merlin pulled up Carroth and beckoned for Jon to lead the way back to the main hall, turning his back on blazing stables. The horn of Winterfell blew- the alarm had been raised by the guards.
Merlin leaned in right next to Carroth and ensured that Jon was out of earshot. "Listen to me very carefully, you are going to tell Lord Stark everything, but you're not going to betray Freya's secret, do you hear me?"
Carroth nodded.
"I'm not joking, I will do anything to protect her, and Victarion Greyjoy was lucky that I didn't roast him in his armour as soon as he crossed us," Merlin said darkly. "Do not cross me, for your own sake."
"I won't, I promise!" Carroth pleaded.
"What's going on here?" Jory Cassel said, he was followed by a dozen other guards, who were carrying swords, bows or spears. "You need to get inside, Lord Stark was looking for you!"
Jon, Merlin and Carroth rushed back into the main hall, where Lord Stark was barking commands, the Napponi and the Northerners were arming themselves; Merlin caught Freya ushering a group of young women and children to the side.
"Where have you been?" Lord Stark exclaimed. "Who's this?"
"This is Carroth, he was with us when the iron born took us prisoner," Merlin explained. "He's led them right to us."
"We'll deal with you later," Lord Stark said coolly. "How many are there?"
"About ninety," Carroth volunteered. "They have swords, axes and bows and arrows."
"Any other weapons?"
Carroth shook his head.
"If I find you've lied to me about anything, I promise you will regret it!" Stark snapped.
"I haven't, I swear!" Carroth pleaded.
"We'll see."
"Father, let me fight! Let me help!" Robb said coming forwards.
"No!" Lord Stark said sharply.
"But-!"
"You are my heir, Robb, Winterfell needs you, do you hear me?"
Robb stopped short and nodded.
"You too, Jon," Lord Stark added. "I want you both, Merlin and Metros to lead the women and children to safety, take them to the Great Keep!"
Robb nodded. "Yes, Father."
"Now!" Stark urged. Robb turned on his heel and called on everyone to gather around him.
"Oh, and keep him close!" Stark ordered, drawing his sword and motioning towards Carroth. "Theon, with me!"
Merlin nodded and pulled Carroth away, while Lord Stark rallied Ser Helman, Benfred and a group of Stark and Tallhart soldiers, and Theon Greyjoy looked towards Tristifer Botley, who was with Robb and Jon, as if he was being given a special privilige.
"Merlin, what's going on? Is it the iron born?" Freya asked, her eyes then caught onto Carroth and they burned with fear followed by fire.
"Are we going to die?" Arya asked, prompting a stern word from her mother. The whole group erupted into a panic.
"No, of course not," Merlin assured.
"Everyone calm down!" Robb called. "We're all going to get you to safety, just follow my lead!" The group of women and children calmed down somewhat. "Merlin, Metros watch the back, Jon, Lancelot and I will watch the front, now follow me and nobody has to get hurt."
They all began to march like a peasant army that was ill prepared for war. Merlin shuddered, before feeling the warm hand of Freya squeeze his own. The glass shattered on one of the windows and a manic war cry could be heard; Lord Stark's voice growled commands to reinforce the threat.
Merlin's company crept out into the night. He smelt the burning of timber, the sept had caught fire, smoke danced and taunted them, daring them to run. Merlin motioned for Freya to go on, while he, Metros and Tris held back- each armed with a sword.
An arrow whizzed past Merlin and hit one of the serving boys, who gagged on his own blood and collapsed, prompting screams from the retreating party.
"Behind me!" Lady Stark screamed.
"What's happened?" Arya called, but Sansa grabbed her and shoved her towards the direction of the keep.
"Robb!" she screamed.
"Iron born!" Lancelot called. From the tails of the retreating party came six iron born warriors, two of which held bows.
"Men, form ranks!" Lancelot ordered.
"Spread out, don't stand still!" Metros shouted at the non-combatants.
"Rush them!" Lancelot roared, he, Merlin, Metros, Robb, Jon, Tris and Milton charged and met the six warriors.
"Keep moving!" Merlin urged Freya, who beckoned the party to sprint to the Great Keep, which could be seen a few hundred metres away.
Merlin dodged a strike and focused on his attacker's wrist, which burned a bright red for a split second, causing him to drop his sword and clutch his wrist. Merlin swung into the pirate's liver, causing him to keel over.
He turned around to spy Metros pulling a man by the hair, picking him up and slamming him into the ground before stomping hard with his foot- the look of rage filled his face, for a moment Merlin felt a bit of fear- the Summer Islander's skin blazed with heat, his red shirt illuminated the bloodshot eyes. He then threw his sword, which missed Merlin and the hilt hit another iron born in the face, giving Merlin the opportunity to kick his would be attacker in the stomach.
Lancelot slew two attackers, and Robb and Jon took down and archer that was about to nock his bow.
"Seoman, what are you doing here?" Robb barked, turning to see Jory's son with a bow in his hand, trying to take some arrows from a fallen iron born.
"I want to help!" the boy protested.
"Your father would be furious if he saw you here!" Robb scolded. "Get back with the others!"
"But-!"
"Now!"
"Seoman, get into the keep and stand guard," Merlin hissed. The boy nodded and scuttled back towards the keep.
"Look out!" Jon exclaimed. Merlin turned to see one lone pirate chasing after servants, women and children. He, Tris and Lancelot dashed after him.
The lone pirate caught sight of Seoman and changed tact and was thirty metres away from him, he was like a lion about to pounce on a deer.
Tris was the first one to ram into him and take him down, causing him to cry out and wince.
"Hello, cousin!" Loras Botley chuckled. "Looks like you've finally found your balls, did one of these greenlanders lend them to you?"
"Shut your mouth!" Tris snapped with unusual fury.
"Or else what? Are you going to kill me? Kinslaying is a major curse, Tristifer," Loras said.
"He might be your kin, but I'm not," Lancelot said, holding his sword to Loras' neck. "Who's leading you? Is it Euron Greyjoy? Victarion?"
"Logan Hyerock," Loras said smugly. "And no, Balon Greyjoy has no idea; Victarion was too cowardly to act, too scared to go against Balon, too scared to do one thing that could give the Iron Islands back their freedom, too scared that Stark will kill Balon's son in retaliation. He has no idea, Stark doesn't have the balls to do that! Oh no, once we get hands on your friend, we're going to set her-!"
He's talking too much! Merlin thought, he glared at Loras and squeezed his own fist shut, imagining an anaconda snake wrapping its body around Loras' neck and constricting the air.
"What the-?" Loras gagged, reaching for his throat.
"What's happening?" Lancelot demanded. "What's wrong?" He then looked towards Merlin for a single moment.
Loras' face was turning blue, his eyes were falling into the back of his head, his grip around his neck faltered and he slinked back on the ground. Silence fell.
Merlin's hands were shaking and he began breathing heavily though his mouth. All eyes, including Seoman's, were on him.
"Let's move!" Merlin snapped. "Now!"
They made their way into the Great Keep- the main hall was filled with women, children and servants. Lady Stark sat in one of the chairs at the back, her eyes tranfixed on Carroth who had been bound by his hands.
"Merlin?" Freya said, rushing towards him. "Are you OK?" She put her arms around him, for a moment, he closed his eyes and he wanted to let go completely and forget the world, but he could not- not yet.
"Freya, please stay here and stay safe," Merlin whispered, pulling back from the embrace. "Don't let Lady Stark do anything or interrogate him."
"How would I do that?" Freya asked.
"Lord Stark would want to be the first to speak with him, he has to be the one," Merlin said. He battled with himself on whether he should tell her or whether he should protect her.
"Merlin, what's on your mind?" Freya caught on. "You can tell me."
He had met her many months ago, when she she was in that cage, when he had to take her to the sanctuary in the catacombs of Camelot. Before she may have seemed like a broken woman, but she was not, she had endured so much, yet Freya had always been resourceful and it dawned on him that he needed her to be.
"Don't panic, but Carroth has led Logan Hyerock her to capture and unleash a beast onto Winterfell," he whispered.
Freya's eyes widened as she understood. "OK."
"He won't implicate you if I'm around when he's questioned- Lord Stark has to do it, no one else."
"OK, I understand. What are you going to do now?"
Merlin gave a weak smile. "I have to go out there and end this, maybe do what I should have done when we first came across Hyerock."
"Don't beat yourself up, Merlin." Freya bit her lip. "Are you sure, is that really what you want?"
Merlin shook his head. "Wants don't come into it. I'll try and be discreet, but whatever happens, my first priority is to protect you. Everything else comes second."
Freya smiled and kissed his cheek. "Be careful then."
Merlin smiled back and touched her chin. "When am I not?" He stepped back from her and caught Lancelot comforting Sefa, but then rose towards Merlin.
"Merlin, how are you?" Lancelot asked. Merlin met his eyes and saw them burning.
"Been better."
"What was that about, with Loras Botley?"
"I- I'll tell you later, right now I have to end this," Merlin said. "I have to go out there."
Lancelot's eyes widened with surprise but they recovered quickly. "OK, but let me come with you."
"That's right, Merlin," Metros said, approaching. "You don't have to do this alone."
Merlin considered their words and nodded.
"Are you going somewhere?" Robb quizzed.
"We have to, but you need to stay here and watch over the keep," Metros said.
"Can we get some rope?" Merlin said.
After a few minutes and a discussion with Lady Stark, they were given their rope. She did not like it, Merlin could tell, but she had no reason to prevent them, especially as they would be more useful by her husband's side.
Jon, Milton and Seoman wanted to join in but Merlin was firm in refusing- too many people could ruin the chances. With the rope, Merlin, Lancelot and Metros lowered themelves to the ground, the chill of the air lashing at their skins.
In the distance there was shouting and crying out. A fair few bodies littered around the Sept, a band of Napponi warriors clashed with some pirates.
Merlin saw Masanori of the Daate clan striking blades with the man Merlin recognised as First Mate Pyers- a dour and pale faced man. Even when he yelled in fury as he dueled, the blood failed to reach his face, except his eyes.
Sweat trickled down Masanori's face, a cut had appeared on his chin, as he grabbed Pyers' sword hand with his left, while Pyers returned the favour by biting Masanori's right wrist with his claw like grip.
Pyers snarled and began pushing the Napponi with all his might, Merlin could guess that the former weighed more. Masanori dropped his sword and threw a knee at Pyers, who pushed out his arm to block it; Masanori curled his own arm over Pyers' neck and sat down, clamping his feet over Pyers' back.
The pirate's face contorted and he tried to slash the Napponi with his sword, but there was no use, there was no space. Pyers dropped his sword and began punching Masanori's torso, who grimaced and tightened his grip. Pyers' hammering became more frantic, before his limbs went limp. Masanori shoved the pirate over, who was starting to stir; he snatched up Pyers' sword and sank it deep into its master's body.
Lanceolot and Metros dispatched the last remaining Iron Islanders in the area.
Masanori's eye caught Merlin's and they both shared a nod.
"Where's Lord Stark?" Metros asked.
Masanori took a few moments to catch his breath. He gestured to the wall that was towards the west of them. "Do you know who's behind this?"
Merlin had a stong sense that Masanori knew.
"I know."
"Then let's end this, once and for all!" Masanori hissed.
They found Lord Stark and a group of defenders before a barricade of broken carts, carriages and statues. Next to the Bell Tower on the wall, stood firm a handful of pirates, overlooking the whole insurrection. On the ground on the other side of the parapet, were iron born foot soldiers, cursing and screaming at the defenders.
Lord Stark was armed with a sword in his right hand and a blue-grey shield in his left. His eyes momentarily flared in alarm when he saw Merlin approaching, before resuming to the task at hand.
"Jory, can you get closer?" Lord Stark asked the captain, who had notched an arrow to his bow. As soon as Jory darted closer and leaned over to take aim, the sky lit up with a fireball which came crashing towards him. The cart that was giving him refuge convulsed and almost toppled on him, followed by a flurry of arrows which impaled the ground next to him. The iron born jeered.
"Where did that come from?" Merlin asked, he peered over to locate the man he was hunting for.
"There's two of them," Mothew informed. "Both are on that wall. Everytime we go near the ones on the ground, the ones on the wall keep us back, we've already lost a dozen men to this damn barricade and those….. warlocks!"
"Warlocks are vulnerable just after they've used their magic, or just before!" Merlin exclaimed, earning a stare from Lord Stark, Mothew and Jory. "I've dealt with him before!"
"Leo!" Lord Eddard called to a brown haired and bearded man, who came at once. "Ser Rodrik!"
"My lord," Rodrik said.
"I need you and Ser Leobald to hold the fort, we need to get on the battlements."
"We'll come with you," Merlin volunteered, looking towards Lancelot and Metros, who assented.
"We need to scale the walls and pincer the warlocks on the wall, we'll be better off coming from outside," Lord Eddard outlined.
"I will come with you," Masanori offered. "Fezayo will provide us with covering rain."
"You'll need rope and grappling hooks," Jory offered. "I'll get them, my lord, but Mothew and I will join you too."
Lord Stark nodded.
"My lord, what about me?" Theon asked. "You can't expect me to just sit around and watch, can you?" Lord Stark glared at him.
"I mean, I should be helping," Theon corrected.
"There's more to battle and war than fighting. I want you to stay with Ser Leobald and Ser Rodrik and observe. That's an order!"
"Yes, my lord," Theon said.
"So what exactly is the plan?" Merlin asked.
"We make our way out through the Hunter's Gate, behind the kitchens, we climb the walls as quietly as we can from either side of the Bell Tower. It won't be easy, but if we can make the climb without them noticing, we'll take out the insurrection once and for all."
After several minutes, Merlin, Metros, Jory, Mothew, Lord Stark, Lancelot and Masanori had exited the Hunter's Gate on the west side of Winterfell, with two ropes, each wearing a pair of leather gloves and each armed with a sword and back up arm. They found the Bell Tower, which was shielded by two layers of outer walls.
The grappling hooks were thrown onto the lip of the wall and Stark and Merlin climbed the one on the right hand side of the Bell Tower, while Mothew, Lancelot and Metros climbed the one on the left hand side. Jory and Masanori stayed back, each with a bow ready to loosen an arrow if it became necessary. Merlin cast a silencing spell on the hooks, though Hyerock shouldn't suspect anything if Ser Leobald and Ser Rodrik were doing their job.
The first wall was a steep ten metre climb, harder than Merlin anticipated, he had to keep his feet steady. He knew that a fall from this height could mean broken limbs. He breathed a sigh of relief as Lord Stark helped him up onto the first ridge.
"Take a breath," Stark muttered and motioned for Masanori and Jory to start the assent.
Merlin looked up to see two more metres of grey wall, he could hear the cries of the battle that was raging inside the could hear Hyerock giving instructions to someone by the name of Drako in channeling fire magic. He closed his eyes.
You're going to have to reveal your magic a voice told him in his heads. There will never be a fantastic time, but there will be very bad times, now he not one of those times.
"You will have to trust someone eventually, if you two are to survive." The words of Tamara latched onto Merlin like a cloak, yet sent shivers down his spine.
"Come on, Merlin, I'll help you up," Stark said, putting a hand on his shoulder and sticking out his hands. Masanori and Jory had made the climb. Merlin stepped on Lord Stark's hands, who then lifted Merlin up, who then climbed the next the next ridge, before giving Lord Stark his hand.
In a short while, Merlin, Lord Stark and Masanori were before the rear of the Bell Tower, any breeze or gust that made it sing was silenced by the yelling and war cries of Hyerock's group. Merlin looked across the ledge to see Lancelot, Metros, Mothew and Jory take position with their swords at the ready. He looked over the edge and saw slopes on either side of the Bell Tower leading them directly to the battlement where Logan Hyerock stood with six of his bodyguards.
Stark gave the signal for Jory and Masanori to nock an arrow, while the others readied themselves to slide down and pincer Hyerock. This had to work!
Lord Stark made a silent count to three with his fingers and began to slowly edge his way down the slope, with one hand basing to steady and silence his descent; Merlin followed suite, hoping to not make a sound.
Just a moment before Stark's feet touched the ground, luck decided to play a joke on them. Logan Hyerock turned around, the look of shock washed over his face, but then his eyes darkened and his mouth twisted into a grin.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, don't forget to leave a review. :)
Is the cover blown? Have the defenders lost their advantage?
The next chapter will be told from Eddard's point of view- I must admit I have really enjoyed writing that one and this chapter.