Disclaimer: GRRM owns all.
Chapter 29 Arya II
"The wildlings have taken the inner wall!" the high born ladies began to yell within the chamber. Arya Baratheon was in a corner of the chamber with all the high born of Winterfell and just listened to the hens, as she referred to them as, panic as if their world was about to end. Outside one could hear the same noises they had been hearing for days: commands, shouts, screams, steel clashing against each other, arrows being shot…but today Arya remembered looking out the window to see battle on the inner wall towards the gate and knew that something did not feel right. Arya felt no fear in this moment, could not, and just stayed in the corner of the chamber caring for her children and Stark family. Arya saw the worried looks on the faces of the girls, Sansa, and even Rhaegar and Brandon were somewhat scared. Arya held Cassana while the sounds of battle loomed outside, but showed no fear although she knew the battle was not going as planned.
Arya looked around the chamber to see the hens screaming, holding their children, and asking Lady Myrcella whether or not they should begin to evacuate the castle. Myrcella had done a fine duty as the Lady of Winterfell over these few days of battle, and Arya held her in even higher respects than before. She had always resented Myrcella for being a Lannister—thinking she had swooned Bran into falling in love with her because she wanted power like her mother Cersei—but Myrcella had shown over the years to be a proud woman with a big heart…something Arya had found lacking in herself since she stopped becoming No One.
"We need to begin the evacuation," Daenerys whispered softly. She sat on the cot with Rhaegar in her arms, whilst Rhaella with Rhaenys in her lap; Casella, Cat, Jeyne, and even little Marissa just held each other for comfort. Lyanna was beside Arya with her head on her shoulder, holding Little Dany. Arya knew they would have to escape to the tunnels eventually, but everyone wanted to see how the battle would turn out. If not for the children…the men will find us later. "We have to prepare the children above all, Arya."
Sansa was to their right holding Brandon who was leaning against her. "Dany is right, we have to prepare the children. We cannot linger."
"No!" the girls yelled as one voice. "We're not leaving without our family."
"What about Papa?" asked Jeyne. Arya saw her eyes glisten with tears.
"Jeyne Targaryen lower your voice!" commanded her mother. Jeyne nodded as Sansa continued, "Us women have been through this before. It was in King's Landing when only Rhaella, Ned, Robert, and Lyanna were tots in the Red Keep. We have to leave even without your father's right now. It is what they would want."
"Let us see what Uncle Bran has to say," replied Rhaella, softly. "Surely he will know what to do."
"I will go ask him. Stay here," Arya agreed. She handed her daughter off to Casella and walked over to Bran, fondling Needle's hilt in her hand. Arya felt that she would use this sword one last time before this was all over. Why can't we just be left alone? Why can't the Starks just live in peace? Something always happened to threaten that peace; Arya had grown used to it.
The Lord of Winterfell was sitting in his chair, looking out the giant window of the chamber which gave a nice view of the courtyard, second gate, and inner wall. His auburn hair was combed down to his neck and he was wearing a plain white tunic with brown breeches. Bran had come into the chamber after the inner wall had begun to see battle with a sullen look on his face. A retinue of a few men followed him and when he entered the hens began to worry. The Stark family had surrounded him and asked questions only for Bran to tell them that the wildlings had found a way to overrun the outer wall using giant ramps, which they could run up with ease. Arya felt her heart sink when she heard that, but Gendry had told her that they lost many men at the Wall and on the road back to Winterfell. The wildlings are too many in number and we have too few to hold the castle properly, Arya remembered in her mind. It is only a matter of time, Arya. Although she would never tell that stubborn bull that was her husband, Arya missed him in this moment.
She approached her Lord Brother and saw that he was speaking in hushed tones with Maester Willem and his men—one of them being an officer. When Arya approached, Bran looked to his left with a sullen face and remained composed. "How fares things, Bran?" Arya asked.
"Would you like some privacy, my lord?" Maester Willem asked.
Bran shook his head. "No, Willem, you stay." He beckoned Arya closer. "What do you see, Arya?"
"What?"
"Look out the window and tell me what you see."
Arya looked out the window and saw fighting on the inner wall. They looked small from this distance but she saw swords clashing over the ramparts, bodies strewn about above the second wall and men frantically moving towards the second gate.
"I see battle out on the inner gate. How did they get there, Bran?"
"They move within the tunnels that connect that turrets of the outer will with the inner wall. Gendry led a defense to retake the outer wall but he says there were just too many. It's just a matter of time, Arya."
"What are you telling me, Bran?"
He took her hand, which surprised Arya. "Out of all the women besides Myrcella, I trust you the most, I hope you know." Arya was surprised even more so but he continued, "Sansa is too emotional; Dany is a good leader but can be a bit irrational when it involves her children, but you are calm, Arya." He sighed. "James is out there leading the men as my word and will—and he is leading them the best he can. I saw him give a speech out on the inner wall before the widllings stormed it, but the free folk are too many and too fierce."
"Are you telling me the castle will eventually fall, Bran?"
Bran nodded with a deep foreboding in his blue eyes. "Yes, Arya, it will. If we can hold the second gate from being broken through then it will give us time, but if they were to break through that…then we must prepare the family to leave immediately. The makeshift wall will only hold the wildlings for some time, and James knows this…he will retreat into the Great Hall before that wall made of bags and crates falls entirely."
"Bran, I don't know what to say."
He patted her hand softly. "Don't say anything. Just know that I won't let it come to that. I won't let our family scurry out of this castle like rats."
Arya's eyes grew wide. "What do you mean, Bran?"
"I will surrender myself to Mance if I have to. I will surrender the castle peacefully and give myself over as a hostage. With that I can buy myself some time until Stannis arrives."
Arya could not believe her ears. "Bran, no!" She yelled. "The free folk just want blood, they don't care for diplomacy! They'll take you captive and sack the castle."
"I know, but Jon insists Mance may take me hostage to prevent further bloodshed. He cares for his people and is a man of reason."
"But he can't control them all. They're animals!"
"Lower your voice," he urged, "and speak of this with no one. Promise me, Arya. Promise me."
Arya nodded. "Fine."
A horn blew, loud and deep. Ahoooooooooo! It blew and Arya felt her bones shake for a moment. The hens of the chamber let out gasps although they heard horns this whole day. But Arya knew this horn was different—it was louder, longer and blew deeper than the others. This cannot be good. Arya shared a glance with her family who were looking at the sconces shaking from the horn being blown. I see fear in their eyes as I feel the fear in mine. Arya tried to gulp down her fear but knew the fear she felt was for her children and family.
Bran felt it , too. "That was no regular warhorn."
Stannis! "Could it be from Stannis? Has he arrived in Winterfell?"
"No," Bran dismissed quickly, "this horn is of the wildlings. It sounds like the horn of winter but it isn't." He grasped his chin in thought.
Arya saw Maester Willem do the same. The maester grunted as if something bothered him. "My lord," he said, coming closer to Bran in a whisper, "this horn reminds me of something young Eddard told me when he returned from the wildlings."
"What is that?" Bran asked with curiosity.
"He told me about a leader amongst the wildlings—Tormund Giantsbane."
"Yes, I have met the man. He makes himself seem bigger than he is."
"I think he blew that horn. Perhaps it was the horn of winter."
"The horn that took down the Wall?" Arya asked.
"Yes," Bran replied, "that one. But Winterfell cannot be destroyed by that horn. That horn was meant to distract and send fear into us. And it has worked."
"My lord!" one of the soldiers who accompanied Bran yelled suddenly. He was wearing his boiled leather and chainmail with a northern helm on his head. Sporting a brown beard, the man pointed out to the ramparts. "There are a lot of soldiers near the inner wall. I think something is happening."
Arya, Bran, Maester Willem and the soldiers leaned closer towards the window. From behind her, Arya could hear whispers of attention coming from her family so she turned around to shoo them away. The children cannot see this, we cannot fill them with fear. In their little eyes, Arya saw them cowering into their mothers or sisters, not knowing what was going on. She felt bad for them; Arya knew that Edric, Robb, and Jaime were with Minisa and Myrcella seeing as they were bored and wanted something to do. In her eyes, Arya knew that Sansa and Dany saw the truth and knew the older girls would be smart enough to, too.
Out towards the inner wall, Arya could see what looked like the men forming around the ramparts atop the second gate: archers, spearmen, swordsmen, and even the wildlings who were fighting the northmen were not doing anything but staring out into the field. Arya did not know what to make of it but knew it wasn't good. She watched with her brother and the men as the scene unfolded before them. The Stark men atop the inner wall had managed to kill the wildlings while they were distracted and the archers were shooting down rapidly at something coming towards the second gate. Above all the sounds, Arya could hear something large coming towards them and it was creaking with each step. It was made of wood, she knew, and the thought of what it could be gave her terror.
BOOM…she felt suddenly and saw the second gate give a jump back as if something large had hit it. Arya remembered when the other day rams and giants had tried to break down that same gate, but nothing compared to this. This thing hitting the second gate made the gate itself cough up wood dust with each hit and the gate bounced back very hard, threatening to break at any moment. Bran's eyes were calm in this moment as if he knew it was just a matter of time before the castle fell, but Arya didn't know if he thought the second gate itself would fall. It reminded of what Jon had told her the morning before the men went out into battle. "Mance will have a surprise for us," he said, as if he could see the future. "The man isn't so simple to just keep sending the free folk to us for target practice—he dislikes mindless killing, especially when it involves his own people."
Arya continued to watch as the men retreated from atop the inner wall and ran down the stairs towards the courtyard. James is leading them! Arya noticed. She even saw Jon, Tyrion, Gendry, Ned, and Dalla with them. Even the Greatjon with his mighty sword was behind the back of the northmen urging them down towards the courtyard. Arya could already hear Jon Umber calling them sons of whores as they moved down with haste. Arya chuckled to herself and saw Gendry from a distance in his yellow Baratheon armor. It was nice seeing her husband alive and the sight made her happy, but someone was missing…
The battle continued and the men were in silence the entire time; there was nothing they could do but watch as they formed a spear wall in the courtyard, just watch as they free folk broke down the gate with a giant ram, just watch as they killed the giants, just watch as the free folk charged into the courtyard killing those in their way, just watch as the men fought behind the makeshift wall. Arya could only watch and it killed her to do so.
Suddenly she felt a hand behind her back and she jumped slightly. "What is happening, Arya?" Daenerys asked having come beside her. Her silver hair was braided and she was wearing a silver cotton dress. "We hear all of these noises and everyone is asking questions. The children are scared."
Arya looked into her lilac eyes and could not lie. "We are going to lose the castle, Dany. It's just a matter of time at this point. The free folk used a giant ram to break through the gate and now they've pushed back the Stark men to the makeshift wall."
Dany covered her mouth. "Gods," she swore. "It's like the fall of King's Landing all over again. Where are our men?"
"I saw them fighting in the courtyard—James, Ned, Dalla, Jon, Tyrion, Gendry, the Greatjon…all were there."
"Who is leading them?" Dany asked.
Arya knew she would like the answer. "Your husband."
"James?" Arya saw her eyes glimmer at the notion of her husband being a leader again. "He is leading them?"
"He is my word and will out there," Bran said now.
Dany let out a small smile and asked, "And Ser Edmund?"
Arya had not seen him. "I didn't see him."
"Oh," she replied, "I'm sure he must've been sent somewhere."
"I sent him nowhere," Bran added. "He was on the inner wall last I saw, leading the men."
"Perhaps James did."
"Perhaps."
Arya looked to Dany again and said, "We need to prepare to get these folk out into the tunnels."
"Not without our men."
"They will find us later, Dany," said Bran. "We need calm minds for the moments ahead. Most of the children in here are young, including our own."
"I know, Bran," Dany replied, perhaps a bit too harshly in her tone but Arya understood a mother's worry. "Just let us wait for them as long as we can."
"Of course."
When Daenerys walked away, Arya turned back to see the battle behind the makeshift wall but could not find the men there. She didn't know if they were out of sight or…she didn't want to think of the worst outcome. Arya was not one to pray, did not care for the gods, but now she had no choice but to pray to whatever was listening.
A loud knock on the door came then.
Startled, Arya whipped her head around with everyone else to hear the knock on the door. This time it came out louder and Arya felt her hand turn to Needle's hilt. I wonder who is out at the door? Could it be wildlings? She wondered. Arya saw the hens of Winterfell holding their children, cowering them and their faces away from the door. Now the knock came even louder than before and Arya's fingers intertwined with Needle's hilt even more this time.
Bran caught her hand. "You won't be needing that."
"Why?" Arya looked into his blue eyes. "You don't know who is out there."
"It's Stark men, Arya. Wildlings in the heat of battle wouldn't have the patience to knock so politely."
"Mayhaps they are trying to trick us."
Bran snorted at the notion. "If you say so."
He then sent the Stark guards within the chamber to check the door and they went to open it. Rickon flew into the chamber, gaining a scream from the hens of Winterfell but sounds of shock from the Stark family. "Rickon!" the Stark family yelled when he appeared and he ran over to them. Arya went over to meet with him and saw the sweat mattered hair against his forehead, the blood on his boiled leather and chainmail, and his sword in his sheath. Arya saw Bran and Maester Willem come over as well wanting to know the situation unfolding outside them in Winterfell.
The Stark family made room for Rickon and he sat down, drinking water out of a skin that a servant girl had given him. Rickon drank greedily and wiped his mouth when it was over.
"Gods!" he swore, lightly. He then asked if someone could help remove his boiled leather and chainmail, so Sansa went over to help him.
"What's happening out there, Rickon?" asked everyone at once. Rickon shrugged off his boiled leather and Sansa was unlacing it from behind. "Rickon?!"
"Who sent you here?" Bran asked when he didn't answer.
"Jon," he replied immediately. He stood up to take off the boiled leather. "The wildlings broke through the gate with a giant ram, sent giants into the courtyard-"
"-Giants?" yelled the children and elder ones.
"Yes," he said with a nod. "Giants. But…" he glanced to Arya who understood what he meant. We need to distract the little ones.
The children were taken away then by the servant girls much to their displeasure. To make it easier for them, Cat and Jeyne went with them and huffed along the way thinking themselves too old to be sent away with the babes. Robb, Edric, Minisa, and Jaime ran over soon after with shocks on their faces asking what had happened. Robert had come over as well seeing as he was on his cot and tried to inquire as well. He threw on a fresh tunic with black breeches and even strapped on a sword. Arya thought against it and didn't wish for him to do so seeing as he was injured, but she knew that Robert had fighting experience and it would be needed.
Rickon continued to explain what happened and told them how the wildlings broke into the courtyard and overwhelmed the northmen due to their sheer numbers. The Stark family was in shock then and Arya could only listen as he described the battle on the makeshift wall, and how the Tully guard fought honorably beside the northmen. Jaime, Casella, and Minisa had asked if Tom had survived and Rickon said last he saw, Eddard had saved his life from a wildling warrior. At that news Arya saw a glimmer shine in Casella's eyes…due to the news of Tom surviving or Ned being a hero; Arya figured it was both.
"What are you to do now, Rickon?" Sansa asked after he was done explaining. Rickon had shed down to a tunic with brown breeches, greaves, and a sword with a dagger on his belt. Arya saw he was shedding his armor to be able to travel lightly.
"Prepare to leave Winterefell," he replied. Most of the family gasped in shock and let the news crash over them. The women did not want to leave just yet without the men but Rickon insisted that they had to go if the men did not return in time. "The children are the most important amongst all of us. They will be slow to move out and we need to get them out now. It's a matter of time at this point."
"Not without our men!" Sansa flared. "We cannot leave without them."
"Sansa!" barked Bran. "We are not the only people in this chamber! We have other people in the Great Hall as well who also have families."
Sansa grew small and nodded. Bran looked to Rickon. "Rickon, I would have you begin to lead them out now."
"Bran!" Sansa yelled in defiance, but the Lord of Winterfell only raised a hand in reply. Bran continued, "We will wait here for the men but we have to begin evacuating our people. Lead them through the tunnels out towards the middle of the Wolfswood. The wildlings won't be out that far, they're mostly by the Kingsroad."
Rickon stood up and nodded saying his goodbyes with everyone. It was an emotional goodbye to say the least seeing as it could be the last time the Stark family saw Rickon. Arya could have cried but the moment did not let her. Bran announced the order to move out and the hens of Winterfell only nodded, gathering their children and belongings. Rickon lead the way with a few Stark guards, swords draw and ready to move. Rickon gave them all a smile and a nod as he disappeared from the door.
After he had left the chamber was empty save the Stark family. It felt oddly silent in the chamber now except the sounds of battle that came from outside, but silent nonetheless. The Stark family huddled together around the cots and Bran ordered Lady Catelyn to be brought into the chamber as well. The Stark men-at-arms which remained with them went to retrieve her and she came back wearing riding clothes with her hair braided. She did not look as youthful as she once did and meekly smiled when she saw them. Bran told her all that had happened and Lady Catelyn kept her composure as usual.
They dressed for travel afterwards, dressing the Stark children and the elder ones in riding clothes, tunics, breeches, and slumped braids. Arya did the same and enjoyed how easy it was to move around in riding clothes as opposed to her cotton dresses. Even after so long Arya still hated those dresses, they felt like shackles. But as the Lady of Storm's End she had to look like a proper lady, but not in Winterfell. The children asked where they were going now and the adults said on an adventure. They were so excited at the prospect and Arya's heart broke a little after that.
All were dressed and ready to go waiting for the men to arrive. All waited nervously and Arya felt her own leg buck up and down in angst. "Where are they?" Dany or someone would ask every so often and it felt like an eternity. Arya glanced around the room nervously looking at the door every so often. Bran would comment how constantly looking wouldn't make them arrive any sooner, and Arya only glanced at him in anger whenever he said that although he was right.
A crash came from outside the door suddenly and everyone whipped their heads at once. Screams came from the halls as well and growls, Arya could hear. Curses began to arise from outside as well, crashed plates, and Arya swore she could faintly hear the clashing of swords. Bran ordered the children to be sheltered and they cowered into each other. Arya glanced back to them and saw tears in the eyes of the girls, even the elder ones. Jaime had a hand on his sword, Robb on his bow and that earned a mean glance from Lady Catelyn who did not like that they were armed. But Arya saw the reasoning in it.
The sounds loomed closer to the chambers and Bran told Arya to take a look with a nod of his head. A Stark men at arms was already at the door listening and Arya walked slowly to him with her hand on Needle's hilt. All she learned at the House of Black and White came back to her, and her feet felt as light as a feather…her mind as empty as it needed to be in order to become No One once more if only for a day. Arya needed to remember those skills to make sure everyone survived.
Screams erupted from behind when the door flew open. A wildling warrior had broken the door open and stabbed the Stark guard in the belly with a sword. The women screamed loudly and Arya watched as the Stark man groaned with the sword sticking out of his back, blood flying everywhere. The wildling man grinned at the sickly death, Arya noticed and heard more voices coming from outside. "Arya!" Sansa yelled but she ignored her sister. The wildling yanked out the sword, the northmen fell to the ground and the warrior noticed her, his crooked wildling teeth showing as if he was eyeing a tasty meal. With Needle already hand, Arya Baratheon moved swiftly towards the man as if she were Cat once more…soft and quiet as a mouse. She pushed out all sounds and closed the distance as the wildling came running at her grunting like a pig.
He raised his sword in the air and slashed right, earning a scream from the Stark women. Arya dodged left and poked him in the thigh swiftly with Needle. She let out a laugh as the man yelped in pain as if he had sat on something sharp. He turned to Arya and asked, "Is that a tooth pick?"
"No, it's your death," Arya retorted with a smile. She had never felt so alive before. The wildling man laughed like a mad man and slashed left this time. Needle glanced off his sword lightly as Arya ducked under his slash and poked him in the side this time. He yelled again and in anger slashed downwards, but Arya only slashed him between the thighs. The blood seeped out of his furs now and he yelped in pain once more, clutching his thigh. Arya loomed over him and laughed as he was on his knees, trying to hack away at her. She only held his sword hand midair and forced him to drop his sword. Without hesitation she watched as her hand moved Needle's blade into the man's windpipe slowly. The wildling's eyes went wide, gurgling on his own blood as she yanked out Needle. The free folk man fell over clutching his neck and died as Arya wiped the blood off her blade. The Stark family was in shock everyone was cowering into each other and shielding the children's eyes.
From behind Arya suddenly heard more curses and grunts as five more wildlings ran into the room with weapons in hands. Arya turned to face them, holding Needle towards her face and looking them all down in combat. There was a woman in the middle with a spear in her hand, bronze helm on her head. Two men were beside her, one on her left and another to her right. Once had black hair and a beard carrying a bone axe, whilst the other had blonde hair and beard carrying a sword made of bronze. The two other wildlings were at the end of the group; a man and a woman both carrying spears although one had on a helm from the North. They growled and cursed at Arya laughing at her tiny sword. Arya eyed them and knew that they would try to envelop her so she had to move around them quickly to take them out. The ones with the spears would be slowest, she knew, and always left their chest and face when they tried to skewer their opponent.
Arya only held Needle closer and smiled at them, preparing for what was to be a great contest. Again the rush filled her body and it was good. From behind her she heard footsteps and saw the two Stark guards come beside her with swords drawn. "Now we can have a good fight!" yelled the spearwife from the middle of the group and the battle began.
"Mother!" Arya heard her son Edric yell from behind. She ignored him and heard hushed whispers. In this moment of distraction the wildlings shouted and lunged at them. The spearwife jabbed quickly and Arya moved swiftly to the right and grabbed the spear by the middle. The wildling woman gave a jump forward then falling to the ground. She then took Needle and stabbed her in the back of the neck killing her without a second thought. After that was over, Arya looked to see two wildlings fighting a single northmen who only kept them at bay with a single sword. One of them jabbed their spear at him and he parried it to the side. Arya saw fear in the man's eyes but he kept his composure. The other wildling saw his flank exposed and ran at him with his sword.
"Watch out!" Arya yelled and the Stark man noticed the wildling. Those two began to fight each other and the wildling man whipped his head to face Arya. He held his spear close and barred his teeth, yelling a curse at her in a tongue she did not understand. The spear jabbed at her teeth and Arya lifted her head, he jabbed at her stomach and she jumped back…in this moment Arya knew that the only way to defeat a spearman was to close the gap and take away their weapon. It took a lot of strength to jab a spear and with each thrust the person grew tired. Which I can use to my advantage, Arya thought.
The wildling man jabbed at her again and Arya moved to the left. He was running out of breath and lowered his spear slightly, his chest moving up and down. This was her moment. In a flash, Arya moved forward and swiped the spear to the side only for Needle to make a hole in the man's leg. He yelped then and jabbed his spear once more, but Arya only stabbed him in the arm this time. The wildling man dropped the spear and she poked him where his eye was sending the blade out the back of his skull. Without a sound he fell to the floor.
"Arrghhhh!" a man yelled and Arya turned around to see a Stark man dead on the floor with a wildling woman. The other wildling warrior stood over him with blood on his sword and eyed her down. Behind her Arya heard no noises and figured the other Stark guard was dead. Quickly she turned and saw she was right, all of the wildlings and Stark guards were dead save her and the brown bearded free folk man in front of her. In this moment of distraction the wildling man ran at her with his sword in the air. Arya noticed this and moved to the side and tripped him with her foot. It was a trick she had learned from the faceless men. A running man with a sword in hand is a stupid man, Arya remembered. The wildling man lifted himself up, shook his hair, and that's when Arya grabbed him by the back of the head and slit his throat. The warm blood ran over her hands. Arya stood up and looked at the two dead Stark guards on the floor with the other four dead wildling warriors. One is missing…
Arya heard screams coming from her family. "Robert!" one of them yelled. Arya's heart sank and she turned to the scene in front of her. Her first born was on the floor rolling around with the last spearwife. The Stark family were cowering at the scene before them: the women were holding the children, the children cowering into them, and the boys wanted to help but they could not do so. Even Maester Willem was guarding Bran and all they could do was watch. Robert was on top of the spearwife, sending his hands into her face, and the woman was kicking wildly. It was then she kicked him in the side and Robert only yelped in pain having been hit in his wound. Robert fell over and the spearwife crawled on top of him.
Robert! Arya's mind screamed at her. Her feet began to move but suddenly the ground came up behind her. A pang of pain surged through the back of her head and spine as she felt Needle slip from her grasp. Stars danced in-front of her eyes and she could only see the white ceiling above her. Screams enveloped the chamber and Arya swore she heard her name. A man's voice boomed then as Arya heard bells ringing. "Your family's dead now, bitch!"
Arya opened her eyes again and saw a wildling man with Needle in his hand, eyeing it. "What a lovely little sword. I could pick my meat with it."
He grabbed Arya by the back of her head taking a handful of hair in his hand. The tug was hard and Arya only grunted as the man neared his face towards hers. His breath reeked of soured milk, his eyes large and brown, and his beard ragged as well. The wildling man had spittle coming out the sides of his mouth and gave her a tug again. Arya's neck snapped back and Needle's blade felt cold against her throat. "You're a tough one," he complimented, pressing the blade even further. From behind Arya could hear more screams. "I will give you that much."
Arya smiled when she heard footsteps come into the chamber. "Die, whoreson!" Arya heard someone yell and the wildling man's eyes went wide. He released her hair and Arya saw his body fall to the ground with an axe in the back of his head. She collected her breath and saw Tyrion standing in front of her clad in his Lannister armor. He had an arrow sticking out from under his arm with a grin on his face.
"Lady Baratheon," he mocked with a bow. Tyrion pulled the axe from behind the man's head and Arya could only collect her breath letting out small laughs. He planted a kiss mockingly to her cheek and laughed once more, waddling behind her. From the chamber door a few Stark guards came inside along with Jon, Ned, James, the Greatjon Umber and finally Gendry. When her husband saw her his eyes went wide and he offered his hand to pick her up.
Gendry held her in his arms as they stood there. From his embrace she watched the joyous hellos, tears from the women and children, and looks of fear all wash away. Gendry kissed the top of her head and Arya noticed the dead spearwife on the floor with blood coming from her chest. Robert was standing to the side shaking Ned's hand with a bloodied sword in hand.
"What happened?" whispered Gendry. "How did this all come to pass?"
Arya looked up at him. "Bran sent Rickon to escort the highborn folk through the tunnels and into the wolfswood. The evacuation has begun."
"We must leave then." Gendry held her face and looked for scratches. Arya had a certain disdain for public displays of affection, which Gendry was often fond of given the situation, but in this moment she did not care. "You killed most of these men, didn't you?"
Arya only nodded and he smiled. "Of course you did. You probably gave them hell, I know it."
"As I would to anyone who would try to kill my family."
Gendry nodded once more and smirked as Bran called them over. With haste they made towards the Stark family as everyone was preparing themselves to move towards the tunnels. The men were shedding the armor they did not need and kept themselves to just tunics, swords and breeches. Everyone else was nervous to go and Arya noticed that Ser Edmund was still missing along with Dalla, which was queer. When Casella asked where her father was, Eddard could not look her in the eyes at first and said he was out escorting the common folk through the Great Hall. A lie, Arya knew, and learned how to read men's face for them during her time in Braavos. Daenerys held her husband as he looked solemn. It was then Arya knew that Dalla had died. Everyone had a moment of silence for her even though nobody here knew her. Cat had liked her, Arya knew, and even Arya herself felt that she and Dalla could have been friends. I wonder how Daenerys feels about this, Arya thought. I wonder if she feels a slight happiness or sadness for James. Of that Arya did not know.
After all was said and done, James said, "What is done is done. She is gone from this world and I will mourn for her later. We must leave this chamber and make for the tunnels."
"By now people will have begun to move through them," Bran said.
"I know," Jon said now, "which means we have to go, too. The wildlings are now trying to break down the doors to the Great Hall."
"We barred it with tables, chairs, and the giant wooden locks," Gendry told them. "It will buy us some time but they will make it through eventually."
"Some of them managed to move through the Great Keep," Eddard said as he rested his head against Lyanna's soldier. Arya's daughter held Little Dany with her belongings ready to move. "Ser Edmund took men over there and are keeping them away from the Great Keep."
"We have to move," said Tyrion now. He winced as Maester Willem examined the arrow. "What can we do about this? Waddling around in tunnels with an arrow sticking out will prove troublesome."
"I need pincers to take this out safely and if I do it violently it could lead to infection."
"Do what you will, Maester."
"I could cut the shaft-"
"-Just hurry, Willem!" Tyrion said impatiently. "We have tunnels to explore."
The Stark children laughed at the jest and Willem sawed the shaft in-half with a small dagger. Once it was over they went over the plans to move through the tunnels and Bran told them his idea of surrendering to Mance. Everyone opposed and Jon urged that Mance would not deny his people the chance to plunder an actual castle. Bran stood defiant until the Greatjon scooped him from his chair and cradled him in his arms like a newborn babe. The babe of Winterfell, Tyrion jested and everyone laughed at the jest. Bran was fuming with anger and ordered that he be pushed in his chair until they reached the tunnels.
The Stark family gathered themselves and made out of the chamber. In the halls one could hear scattering footsteps, screams, and what sounded like objects breaking. The Stark guards escorted them out of the chamber and everyone filed in position. The Great Keep looked practically deserted in this moment save for the few castle folk who would be seen scurrying in the halls. They moved down the halls in hurry. The Stark men lead in front with swords drawn while Arya was in the middle with Robert, Ned, the women and the children. Behind them the remaining Stark guards urged them forward.
Arya held her daughter Cassana while they moved through the halls of the Great Keep with haste. Her daughter kept asking where they were going and each time Arya would have to lie. From the front Bran could be seen with his brother's and family around him being pushed by the Greatjon in his chair. Arya knew that when they reached the tunnels Bran would have to be carried, much to his displeasure. But it was either that or he be left behind or dragging himself on the ground like a snail. The snail of Winterfell, Arya could hear Tyrion mock in her mind. She had to stifle a laugh.
They moved through the Great Keep with more haste and you could see evidence of people having already left: empty trunks were strewn on the ground with clothes, weapons, torches, and objects like plates, jewels, and personal belongings. It looked as if a whirlwind had gone through the Great Keep making a giant mess of things. Sansa must hate the sight of this, Arya thought. From time-to-time one could also hear a scream, the scurry of boots, the clash of swords, the sounds of battle from outside, and the howling of the wind. Arya knew the wildlings would show up at any moment and could only wait.
Maester Willem led them to the lower levels of the Great Keep and Arya saw a door in the wall that was already opened. A sconce lied empty hanging on the wall and beside it Arya saw one of the stones jutting out. Rickon has been here. The children asked why they had to go through the tunnels but everyone made it into a game for them. Arya was thankful for that much. The tunnels were wide enough for two grown men to stand abreast while it was high enough for the Greatjon to fit through. It was dusty and dark when they stepped in, and James led them in handing out lit torches.
"Maester Willem, lead the way," Bran ordered. "Women and children in the middle and us men will lead the front with myself and Lord Umber. Gendry, stay in the back with the guards."
Bran beckoned Arya closer. "I know you can use Needle if needed. Should someone else hold Cassana?"
"I can do so," said Lady Catelyn. She was holding Joanna and beside her was Myrcella.
"I can do so, Arya," Myrcella offered.
Cassana only cowered into Arya's shoulder and they left it alone. Once they were inside, Jon closed the door behind them and led the way with Bran slumped over the shoulder of Jon Umber. The Stark guards in the back held torches, the Stark brother's in the front as well. It created an orange hue in the tunnels and from above you could hear the sounds of battle still.
"Should anything happen to us, I want you all to run until the tunnel ends," James spoke for the men now. "Listen to Maester Willem and don't give your mother's a hard time."
"Nothing will happen, Father," said Rhaella now. Arya saw her nieces silver hair shine in the orange light. Rhaegar was cowering into her shoulder. "You musn't speak that way."
"Where is my Father?" Casella asked now. "And Tom? Are you sure they're fine, Ned?"
"Tom is probably with Rickon and the rest of the Tully guard," he assured her. "Ser Edmund is beholden to defending the castle."
Casella gave a nod in the orange hue and her auburn hair looked more orange. They picked up the pace now and everyone was walking in fast.
"Where are we headed, my lord?" asked Maester Willem now, his voice bouncing off the walls. On the ground Arya could see the shapes of footsteps. "The wolfswood will be facing the Kingsroad when we come out."
"Riverrun," Bran replied.
"Riverrun?!" a few voices said at once in surprise. "Why?"
"What's wrong with Riverrun?" asked Minisa.
"It's leagues away," Myrcella answered. "Surely other Stark bannermen would be happy to house us."
"The North is being housed by wildlings last I checked, my lady," Tyrion japed. "Going south is the best option."
"But going past Moat Cailin?" Sansa said. "Those swamps aren't fit for the babes."
"We aren't babes!" said Cat, Jeyne, Robb, Edric, and Jaime at once. Cat then said, "We can handle some dumb swamps."
"Language, Catelyn," said her father, James.
"Moat Cailin is not fit for children," Lady Catelyn echoed and Arya knew it to be true. "There are too many dangerous animals there. We have to go east."
"Essos?"
"No, towards White Harbor."
"White Harbor?!" everyone said again in surprise.
This time Jon groaned. "You don't want to go to Moat Cailin, or Riverrun, and we can't go back to Winterfell. White Harbor will have to do."
"From there we can take a ship south to King's Landing," said Ned now. Arya thought it reasonable and everyone agreed. They continued moving through the tunnels and Arya thought it had no end. The fire shining from the torches kept showing grey dirt walls after grey dirt walls and Arya thought she was going insane. It felt like as if they were going through the belly of a giant snake, and the notion made the moment more enjoyable. After some time more evidence of Rickon and the people he led out began to show upon the tunnel floors. They even stumbled upon the corpses of a few wildling warriors, a couple of Tully guards and even a few slain common folk. Everyone turned the children's eyes away when they saw that.
They kept moving through the tunnels until suddenly they heard yells and the clashes of steel on steel. Arya turned to see a few wildling men dead at Gendry's feet in seconds. He shone a fire torch over them and Arya saw they were just young men. More shouts came from behind them and echoed off the walls.
"Run!" Gendry yelled from behind and they needed no encouragement. Arya held Cassana tighter and ran forward. The Greatjon cradled Bran even harder and everyone picked up the pace. Arya turned around to see Gendry fight wildling warriors with the Stark guards.
The sounds of battle began to feign and Arya heard Gendry yell, "We need more men down here! There are too many!"
Bran ordered the group to halt and so they did. The Greatjon put Bran into his chair once more and the Stark men stepped forward with swords drawn. James came up to Arya and put a hand on her shoulder. "Me, Jon, and Tyrion will go help him. Stay here with the women and wait for us. Should we take too long or you hear wildlings shouts…run."
Arya nodded and James moved forward with Jon and Tyrion. The men disappeared in the darkness to the sounds of steel on steel. Eddard came up beside them with Robert, swords drawn. "Where are you going?" asked Daenerys. "Your father said to stay here with us."
"I'm not going to stand here while my father risks his life," Ned replied. "I'm not a babe."
"Neither am I," echoed Robert.
"Robert, don't be an aurochs!" Arya scolded him. "No one here can fight save you and Ned—should Rhaegar and Brandon fight them off or me with Cassana on one arm?"
Robert shook his head but Ned was being stubborn. "If Robert stays then I can go. Robb has a bow and Jaime a sword."
"They're boys, Ned!" shouted his mother.
"We are not!" Robb said now but Sansa shushed him.
Lyanna spoke now. "Ned, my sweet, just stay here with us."
And so they did. The tunnels were dark and cold as they waited for the men. The sounds of battle could still be heard from the tunnels ahead, but Arya knew they had to keep moving. Above them they could see dust being spit out from the ceiling and even more the sounds of battle raged from above.
"Where are they?" Myrcella asked now. "How many wildlings are in these tunnels?"
"How did they even find a way in?" Jeyne said. "I thought Maester Willem pressed the stone in the wall."
"I did," the Maester replied. "I'm not sure how they got in."
"The free folk are resourceful," Ned told them. "They probably saw someone do it."
After a moment of silence, Arya said, "I cannot wait anymore. I have to go see them."
"Arya, no!" yelled Sansa but it was too late. Arya handed her daughter off to Myrcella and drew Needle, moving forward in the darkness. As she loomed closer and closer the sounds of battle grew louder. They echoed off the walls and Arya swore she heard Jon's voice amongst them. She even heard the cutting of flesh and some screams.
When Arya found them she saw bodies on the floor. The torches on the floor shone the path in front of her and the scene was dark. Wildlings lay dead on the floor with a few Stark guards and the men were still fighting. Jon fought a spearwife as James a wildling warrior. The Greatjon and three Stark guards were fighting five wildlings and Gendry a man of his own. Arya drew Needle and joined the frey. She fought off the remaining wildlings with them and Arya watched Gendry take the face off a wildling warrior.
Arya pulled Needle out the back of the neck of a spearwife when the fighting was all over. The men were collecting their breath and on the floor laid even more dead. It looked as if most of the guards that had joined them perished on the tunnel floor and Arya thought that sad.
James laid against the wall and said, "Where are the women and children?"
"Waiting for us further down the tunnels."
He was angry. "Arya, we said for you stay there with them!"
"Aye, I know, but you were taking too long. We have to go, James."
"Arya…" Gendry admonished. "What if something were to happen in your absence?"
"Are the wildlings going to dig through the ceiling to get at them?"
"But they could come from in front, Arya," said Jon now. "One can never know."
Tyrion Lannister sighed loudly. "As much as I love the smell of pisswater and the sights of these grey walls we really must get going."
Two growls came from the darkness now and two wildlings emerged before them. One of them hacked at Tyrion and the dwarf dodged them, moving around the warrior to hack him at the thigh. The man yelled and Tyrion drove his axe into the nape of the man's neck. When he was dead, James killed the other with ease by opening the man's belly with his sword.
"More fucking whoresons!" said Gendry. "Gods they're immortal as Tyrion says."
"Ha, you owe me a few stags, James!" said the dwarf. "I told you that would catch on."
"Once this is all over you will get your stags, Tyrion."
A lighthearted chuckle was had until more shouts came from the darkness and they were loud in number. "More are coming!" said one of the Stark guards now.
"We must get back to the women and children," Jon told them. "But we can't leave these wildlings to kill others trying to come into the tunnels."
"Aye, which is why we will handle them," the Greatjon Umber said. "Me and us guards will kill these whoresons and buy you time. Tell Lord Bran I expect more land after this."
"And it will be given to you," said James as if he was the Lord of Winterfell himself. The Greatjon held his large sword and gave them a nod, yelling and running into the darkness to meet his wildling foe along with the Stark guards that remained. Arya thanked and loved the man for his sacrifice even though he did not have to. She knew that Jon Umber had lost his son at the Red wedding…the thought made her sad.
When they arrived back to the Stark family, Bran urged everyone forward. James scooped up Bran in his arms and led the front with Maester Willem through the tunnels. Behind them, Gendry was with Jon and they moved closer to the Wolfswood. The tunnels began to narrow after sometime and Arya's thoughts were with Jon Umber. When the family was told of how he stayed behind Bran stayed silent and did not utter a word.
The children began to give little coughs as the dust was shooting out of the tunnel ceiling rapidly. Arya looked up and little clouds were being shout out so fast her eyes could not keep count. The ground atop of them was shaking fast as well and Arya thought thousands of men must have been running above them. Ahead of them Arya could hear James shouting how the tunnels were coming to an end, but the sounds of above were what kept Arya worrying. They sounded as if giants were jumping up and down on the earth, and Cassana told her she heard horses. Arya didn't know what to believe.
"What are those sounds?" Gendry asked now. "Do the wildlings have cavalry?"
"Not that we know of," said Jon. "They have shaggy horses but they aren't big enough or large enough in number to make such a sound."
"It does sound like horses charging," Daenerys commented. "Where are we?"
"The tunnels begin to narrow as we get towards the end," Maester Willem told them. "We will have to climb a ladder which leads into the edge of the Wolfswood that faces Winterfell. When the lord of Winterfell of old had it built the idea was going to the Wall seeing as they thought Southern Kings would try to take Winterfell, but now times are different."
"Indeed," Bran echoed. "We have to be careful when we break the surface. Men first and then the women and children."
Everyone agreed. Arya then said, "I hope Rickon is fine. Where is he to take all of these people, Bran?"
"I told him to hide in the Wolfswood until the wildlings moved into Winterfell. From there…I haven't thought that far ahead."
"They could move with us to White Harbor."
"Aye, they could. But for now we must think of our own."
The tunnels narrowed even more and now everyone had to move two abreast. Even the ceiling was lower now and the sounds from above grew louder and clearer. Shouts could be heard now, battle cries, and the clashing of swords. Arya felt her nerves grow because she did not know who they would find up on the surface. The end of the tunnel appeared now and James shone his torch upon it. A ladder was built into the wall made of stone and Arya knew that they would take some time climbing this.
They moved slowly as James pushed open the door which led to the surface. When he did that the sounds of battle grew loud and Arya heard horses neighing. The men moved up the ladder and offered hands to help the women and children through. Each one moved slowly until it was Arya's turn. Gendry propped her up in his arms and she reached up to grab James's hand.
The light blinded her as Arya moved above the surface. The air was moist and she could not see, but could hear the sounds of battle. Horses were charging, men were yelling, and shouts of death could be heard as well. Once her eyes adjusted to the light Arya saw they were at the edge of the Wolfswood overlooking Winterfell. The Stark family was around her and they were peering out of the forest into the green fields.
Arya came up beside them. "What is happening?"
"Look!" Sansa yelled. The Stark family huddled and saw Winterfell before them sitting on the Kingsroad. From the castle Arya saw smoke coming from out of it, littered dead all around the castle and most importantly the wildlings being routed. Armored calvary, soldiers, spearmen, and archers were sending the free folk down the kingsroad towards the south. The Stark family were facing north towards Castle Black.
"Who is that?" asked Cat. "Are those northmen?"
"It's Stannis!" Bran yelled. The Stark family cheered and entered the clearing to view the battle upon the Kingsroad. Even though it was a joyous moment everyone was in silence as they watched the battle. Arya sat on the ground with her family and held Cassana, waiting for it all to end. She still could not believe, along with everyone else, that Stannis had come to rescue them.
Arya looked around laying with Gendry and their daughter, and saw their tired faces. Sansa's hair was tangled with mud on her face, Jon's had soot on it as well. James's tunic had sweat stains whilst Ned's had a rip in it. Lyanna had her head resting on Ned's shoulder, and even Rhaella had hers resting on Robert's. It took a battle for Winterfell to bring Rhaella and Robert a bit closer. The younger children kept to themselves. Even Tyrion Lannister had ripped off his breastplate after they reached the surface. Lady Catelyn was holding Joanna and the Lady of Winterfell only laid on the grass. The howling of the wind, the sounds of battle and her family was all Arya needed in this moment.
But it was Casella who broke the silence with that one question, "Where is my Father?"
Everyone shot up from the ground then and stared at her. Casella only repeated the question. "Where is he, Ned? Where is Ser Edmund?"
Ned moved out of Lyanna's embrace and moved closer to his former love…his first love. "Casella, I told you-"
"-You're lying!" the auburn beauty flared. She ripped blades of grass from the ground, her face turned red, and the act earned gasps from everyone around her. "I loved you once, Ned, I'm no fool. I can tell when you're lying! You were never good at it!"
Ned looked abashed and Arya saw Lya's gaze move to the floor as if she knew the truth of it. "Sella," Ned said, calmly. He closed the distance between him and Casella. "I have not been dishonest…"
Casella slapped him. Loud it cracked and everyone was silent. The shock was on their faces. Normally, Lyanna would have pounced on her but did not. She was letting them have this moment, Arya realized; letting them because Lyanna knew what Arya already had when the men entered the chamber without Ser Edmund. In her heart, Arya knew what had happened to the master-at-arms of Winterfell.
Casella did, too. Tears trickled down her face and she looked at Ned, both standing up on their feet to face each other. "Tell me the truth, Ned. Where is he? Where…" But before she could finish asking Ned grabbed her hands as if they were in-love again, and the act made Casella's face soften as the tears kept coming.
"I think you already know," Ned said with tears staining his face, too. He pulled her into a hard embrace and Casella only began to cry furiously into his shoulder. Everyone cried with them softly and it left the children confused until tears took them as well.
Cassana buried her face into Arya's shoulder and cried, cried as if she understood what was going on. After all they had been through, Arya allowed herself to cry, too.
