CHAPTER 25. LIGHTBRINGER

JON SNOW

Lady Mormont came through and sent ships to the survivors. The small folk are sent to Bear Island while Jon and the fighting men sail on to Stoney Shore. From Stoney Shore Jon marches across land to Winterfell. While in Stoney Shore Jon learns that the White Walkers have attacked Last Hearth and Karhold.

"How do we stop them?" Jon asks to Milisandre.

"Winterfell! Winterfell!" The Raven following them squawks.

Lord Glover looks at the Raven, "Is that really your half brother in there?"

Jon smiles, "Yes…"

He shakes his head, "The Old legends come true…"

From Stoney Shore they travel by Horse with as many men as they can gather in the villages. After a week and three days of hard riding they come to the Wolf's Wood. As the days pass the snows grow deeper but on they push. "Winterfell!"

The gates are opened and when Jon arrives Rikcon and Bran are there with a woman by the name of Avalene Maegyr. "Lady Catelyn!" Jon says in shock that she is still alive, especially after what he had heard about the Red Wedding.

"Jon…" She hesitates, "…It is good to see you…"

"The White Walkers have broken through the wall…"

"We know…"

"Jon I need you to come with me…" Bran says. Jon follows his brother to the god's wood. "Take my hand…"

"Bran what is this all about?"

"Trust me…"

Jon takes his hand and then Bran touches the tree. His eyes go white and then Jon's eyes follow. Into the past they go to the day Jon was born at the Tower of the Hand. "Is that me?"

"Yes…"

"My mother…"

"Is my Aunt…Lyanna Stark is your mother and your father is Rhaegar Targaryen…You are the Prince that was promised…Come we have further to travel…" Deeper into the past they go to the days of Azar Ahai who stands on the wall. "I told you I would bring him…"

"Hello Jon Snow…"

"How is this possible?"

"Magic Jon Snow…Magic is not bound by time…" Azar raises a sword, "This is Lightbringer and with it…You can stop the White Walkers and put the Night King back in his tomb…"

"Where is it?"

"Lightbringer is buried with me at Winterfell…Go to the deepest part of the crypts and there you will it and me…" Azar shows Jon how to use the sword's power. "Go now before the world is consumed…"

THE PRESENT

Jon returns to his body and looks at Bran, "How did you do that?"

"I will explain later, but now you must get that sword it is our only hope…"

Jon leaves the god's wood and heads back into the courtyard. He ignores calls from others and enters the crypts. He stops at the statue of his mother for a few seconds and then Eddard Stark's statue. Jon feels many things staring at the Eddard Stark's likeness. He grits his teeth and continues on through the crypts. Down and down he goes to the lowest level. Beyond the statue of Bran the Builder the First King of Winterfell lies the statue of Azar Ahai and in its hands is the sword Lightbringer.

As Jon makes his way back up to the surface, the White Walkers attack Winterfell. When he emerges from the crypts he runs to the wall as Whites climb up the wall. As the defenders are pushed back Jon joins the battle. His sword bursts into flames and he cuts down White after White. Then a Walker leaps up onto the wall. Jon raises his sword causing the Walker to screech. A great light erupts from the sword killing the blue eyed White and many Walkers.

Jon stares out over the wall as the rest retreat in every direction. Soon they vanish from sight, "My Lord…They are attacking Wintertown…" Davos screams.

Jon is bought a horse and he gallops to the walled town raising his sword high. Again the White Walkers retreat, as many are caught in the blast of light and are incinerated. Later Jon meets with King Rickon, Lady Avalene Maegyr, Bran, Lady Catelyn, Sir Davos, Cotter Pyke, and Maester Aemon. They all patiently wait as Bran Wargs two Ravens and sends one to Torrhen's Square and the other to White Harbor. The one he sends to Torrhen's Square arrives first.

As usual Meera is at his side. "I see no White Walkers…The people have fled the castle…and the surrounding villages…" He says in a trance like state. His eyes are all white, "I will send the Raven further south and focus on the other…" His gives the Raven commands and then focuses his mind on one bird. "I see the White Walkers, but they are not attacking the city." Bran suddenly screams and his eyes return to normal.

"Bran are you alright?" Catelyn asks.

"A White shot my bird down…I will need another …" He looks at Jon, "…They may attack White Harbor."

"My husband has ten thousand fighting men at Moat Cailin…"

"Men who do not have the proper weapons…"

"They have oil…"

Jon sighs, "The most strategic place to attack is Moat Cailin. Cut us off from the south…"

"What if you are wrong and they attack White Harbor…"

"Take me to the weir tree and I will let you know what the White Walkers will do…" Bran says speaking up.

"Can't you do it without the tree…"

"I can, but I am not strong enough yet…" So they bring Bran to the tree and touches it so they wait. After an hour Bran takes a breath and his eyes return to normal. "Jon is right they will attack Moat Cailin, but with only half their forces…The rest will attack White Harbor…"

"There are more people at White Harbor than at Moat Cailin…You and your sword will be needed at White Harbor…"

"Then I will travel by river it will be faster…"

Preparations are quickly made then Jon leads the best fighters by horse out of Winterfell to the river. The river is overflowing but not frozen so they ise barges to travel down river to White Harbor. When they reach the fork in the river it is frozen solid and they are attacked by Giant Whites throwing boulders at the barges. Jon raises Lightbringer and incinerates the dead forces on the river bank and melts the ice. So his barge takes the vanguard and he uses his sword to melt the ice as they continue down river.

A mile from the city Jon and his companions tie off the barges and travel across land. A half a mile later they are attacked by ice spiders and whites. The spiders burst into fire while the Whites into watery mist. When they reach the city Jon uses Lightbringer twice outside the wall and then behind the wall he kills two Walkers with Lightbringer and then he unleashes the full power of the sword a third time.

When it is over the people of White Harbor approach Jon cautiously as if he is a god come to life. Later he meets with Lord Manderly and his councilors in the main hall. Jon explains everything that happened since the wall and how they made peace with the Free Folk. "So what is the plan now?"

Jon sighs, "I can't be in more than one place at a time…There is too much ground to cover and if the White Walkers decide to head south…"