Chapter 51: Taking The Night
It felt odd to chase the dead, but that is what the armies of Westeros did. While they might have been able to catch the backs of another army the dead never needed to stop and rest. Thankfully their scouts weren't just men, but an unkindness of ravens that seemed to follow them, waking them every mourning and guiding them north east.
When they came to the hill of ice that was the remnants of the Wall they found a clear path had been opened through it. The dead weren't waiting for them on the other side, which told Jon that come morning they would pass through the Haunted Forest. Either they would be lead north west and deeper into the forest, or the wight army had moved east intending to freeze the bay again and cross over to Skagos in hopes of coming around and hitting their back. The Night King could hole up on the island and let them try to siege it, but Jon doubted it.
The sun was still in the sky when the army made camp and had their fill for the night. After meeting with his generals Jon retired to his tent with his wives to get what rest they could before what could be their final march.
"Shouldn't I be with Brienne and my guard?" Sansa asked as Jon removed his cloak.
It was Daenerys who flashed an apologetic smile at her. "You did incredible during the attack, but they'd still be focused on protecting you instead of fighting."
Sansa crossed her arms with a hint of indignation. "We can't guarantee our safety on the dragons either, not with them throwing spears around."
"That's why I want you to wait until we've met them before coming," said Jon. "Let us take their attention, give you less to dodge."
Seeing Sansa's frustration, Daenerys walked to her with a teasing smile. "Don't tell me you've gotten a bloodlust from killing things without blood."
"It's not-" Sansa sighed, shaking her head.
With a solemn smile Jon pulled her head forward to kiss her forehead. "You're fine."
Daenerys nodded. "Viserion chose you. You're meant to do this."
"You'll be able to help us more guiding him than you could from the field," Jon said meeting Sansa's eyes, who seemed shocked he knew what had been bothering her. "Let me worry about the men on the ground, I'll need you and Dany helping us from the skies and watching our back."
"You really think he'll go through Skagos?" Sansa asked once Jon released her and stepped back.
"Hopefully we'll catch him before that happens."
They were woken by the unkindness of raven overhead. The moon was in the sky, but that had stopped mattering these past few days as they rode until they couldn't anymore and woke when the were rested enough.
Jon had considered using Rhaegal to drop him and a group off in the middle of their army as a kind of distraction, but was talked out of it quick enough. Not wanting to wait with Daenerys and Sansa he opted to ride with the ground forces so he would be among the first to engage the wights. With his helmet and bever gone, Jon wore the gorget Gendry made him to top off the rest of his armor and strapped Nighttaker on his waist.
Mounted on his horse before his gathered army Jon took a breath and looked upon them. "I see before me a dream many have had but few have every seen! People of Westeros truly united, bound together and unwavering in our resolve! Let our march end today! Let it end when the living face death itself and prove that we fear no darkness! Let the earth quake in fear of our might as we march to death and find ourselves alive! Let us rise a new, united people born beneath the dawn of a new era of life"
"The Dawn!" The cheered, following Jon and his guards as the ravens guided them.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Winds howled as the Night King marched with a group of White Walkers at his side. The wights stepped aside, making room for them as their horses took longer strides than the human corpses.
They were passing through ironwoods and sentinel trees with the shore in sight when they heard the rising roar of yells and thump of hooves. The Night King turned and his army turned with him, putting the shore facing Skane and Skagos to their backs as they saw the united armies of Westeros charging them.
Immediately White Walkers looked to the sky for dragons, but found none as horses barreled into wights, knocking them aside while their riders cut through others with valyrian steel and dragonglass. Some of the men had even abandoned shields for torches in their off hands, waving them like clubs and igniting any they passed.
They had backed the Night King and his army into a corner and expected to fight to the last man. Once this battle had finished one or both of the armies would be completely wiped out.
Wun Wun lead the infantry trailing behind the mounted men, roaring as he threw a large spear over the mounted men. It managed to pierced a wight giant, crush a wight against the ground and destroy three others the dragonglass spearhead cut through.
The Night King reached for the spear in his saddle and rose from it as he pulled his arm back and launched the spear over his army, straight through Wun Wun's heart. The giant stumbled, but dashed forward, using the last of his strength to make his way toward a group of wights trying to get behind the mounted men and sweeping them aside with his cudgel before collapsing to his knees. As he fell to the ground a trios flaming arrows hit his back, igniting his body before it could be raised again.
"Loose!" Davos ordered from horseback, aiming his sword toward the wight army. Rows of men fired dragonglass arrows into the undead host, two of them hitting White Walkers and downing a dozen wights beyond the dozens hit by the rain of arrows.
Once the walkers started throwing spears at them, a horn signaled and the air shook as the dragons roared and dived through the thick clouds overhead. They moved to the shore, scorching the earth and turning dozens of wights to ash. With both riders secured in their saddles and watching the walkers it was easy enough for them to warn the dragons, letting them dodge as swiftly as they could, diverting their paths.
It didn't take long for most of the men to be unhorsed or dismount, the number of wights too great and the horses too easy a target. With the queens they swore their service to soaring overhead, Brienne and Jorah stuck with Jon and those around him cutting a swath through the center of the army.
Bronn was backing away from a pair of wights slashing at him when one collapsed seconds from driving an axe into the sellsword's skull, revealing Podrick who turned and cut through the second. The sellsword laughed, "I'd offer to buy you a whore but it ain't like they'd charge ya!"
Garlan Tyrell parried the blow of a White Walker with Last Thorn and gave a slashing riposte through his side, but as the walker shattered another charged him until the snake headed spear Viper's Strike flew past him and into the walker's chest. Rushing to retrieve his spear, Daemon Sand gave the man a wink before the saber Desert Wind cut through a wight and he kicked the short spear back into his left hand.
Brynden Tully grunted as he stuck behind his shield, knocking aside strikes and thrusting his short sword into wight chests. A dozen lay around him when three more charged him, but before they could flank him Edmure dashed past him, ignoring the scraping blow of a sword across his cheek to swing Autumn Stream through two at once. The third turned to strike him but Brynden cut it down with ease, giving his nephew a firm nod before they continued forward together.
With the bulk of the wight army pushing forward to flee dragonfire Davos dismounted and drew his sword. The men around him set aside their bows and emptying quivers to draw their own blades and enter the fray now they were too mixed to risk friendly fire.
Men and women of Westeros fought beside Dothraki, Unsullied and Free Folk, backing each other without hesitation or doubt. Faced with death they were driven beyond themselves, beyond their old lives. The world as it had been didn't matter anymore and, though it might again once things had settled, in that moment all that mattered was that they kept each other alive and breathing, because that meant they were on the same side.
The Night King dismounted with his guardians and waved his hand, causing their horses to charge forward as Jon's group approached. Jon felt an odd familiarity staring down a stampede of horses charging him, only this time he wasn't alone as he dodged them and cut through the wight steeds. Sandor's slash threw one to it's side while others reared back before crumbling to the ground.
Jon came to a stop momentarily as he faced the Night King and his guardians. He glanced to his sides and found he was far from alone. Arya and Gendry stood to either side of him with Sandor, Jorah, Jaime, Theon, Edd, Tormund, Gray Worm, Brienne, Dirgo, Daemon Sand, Garlan Tyrell and Edmure Tully. As Rhaegal roared overhead Ghost stepped silently beside Jon, his crimson eyes locked on the blue of the Night King.
"And now it ends," Arya said with a smirk, spinning Thread in her hand.
"No," Jon said meeting the Night King's eyes, "now it begins."
With that they all charged, roaring at valyrian steel met ice.
The Night King slashed at Jon, who dodged and sped past him turning to strike at the walker on the Night King's right. The walker had been distracted by Arya's thrust, too slow to Jon yelling as Nighttaker cleaved his head and shattered his body. Gendry brought Hartstine down toward the Night King, who dodged and slashed at him only to scrape across his valyrian steel shield. Ghost yelped as the Night King swung and slammed hit fist into the wolf's leaping body, throwing him aside with inhuman strength.
Brienne dodged the strike of a White Walker to slash through his torso, but when another went to stab her Tormund slammed his axe through the icy blade and thrust Prick through the walker's neck. When Brienne turned she saw a bald walker about to stab Tormund through the back and leapt in front of him to take the strike, only for Sandor's Gravedigger to smash through his head, shattering the walker.
Gray Worm and Dirgo were fighting off a pair of walkers when Edmure Tully charged into the back of the one Gray Worm faced, running Autumn Stream through his abdomen. The moment the walker shattered Gray Worm threw Lock Piercer into the back of the one Dirgo fought. The dothraki swiftly kicked the spear back toward Gray Worm, who caught it and ducked while Dirgo charged forward and slashed through the walker about to stick ice through Gray Worm's spine.
Jon turned to block the strike of a walker while Arya tried to stab the Night King, who dodged her strike and Gendry's swing. After parrying a strike into the ground Jon raised Nighttaker, letting it cut through the jaw of the walker who shattered. However another had moved to run him through with a spear until Garlan Tyrell slammed Last Thorn into it, forcing the ice spear up while Daemon Sand slashed Desert Wind beneath the walker's raised arm.
Ghost charged the Night King, slamming into the frozen man and knocking them to the ground. While Ghost rolled away and sped off, circling the group, the Night King threew his legs around and slammed them into the ground to stand and walk from the fray.
When Jon dashed at the Night King, he found four walkers in his way and a pair of giants walking toward him. Theon thrust at one with Winter Squall only to have the walker dodge, but before it could bring it's sword down on the Greyjoy, Mother's Might tore through it's arm and back in a pair of cuts so quick they both seemed to hit before it even shattered.
Theon stumbled forward and pushed himself low, beneath the slash a walker aimed at Jorah to bring Winter Squall up in a rising slash that tore through the walker's chest. Ice clattered to the ground as he found Jaime Lannister rushing to meet another walker in a series of riposte.
Jon tossed Nighttaker into his left hand and pulled the dragonglass dagger from his belt, stopping briefly to throw it at one of the giants. He felt a jolt of joy as the dagger pierced the giant's forehead and he stumbled to the ground. Tossing Nighttaker back into his right hand he continued his charge.
Jaime glanced from the giant falling to his knees to his king, smirking as he pushed the walker he fought to face him. A moment later as Jaime pulled his arm back the walker shattered, Jon slashing Nighttaker through his back. The walker shattered and Jaime thrust Widow's Wail forward, through the eye of the walker about to strike Jon.
With only the giant left the others turned to prepare themselves but watched Jon continue running, pulling his sword back. The giant reached for him but they watched as Jon flung his sword up while it bent down to grab him, piercing the giant's chest. The moment its rotted body stilled, Jon leapt up, yanked the blade free and ran to his left, slipping under the giant's extended arm before it crashed to the ground.
Eddison Tollett brought Ranger's Wrath down toward the Night King, but he caught the blade and pushed it away while dodging a strike from Arya. When another walker thrust his spear toward Arya, Gendry rushed forward to put his shield in front of it, letting the spear shatter like glass while Edd turned and swung through the walker's neck.
The Night King backed away and looked at the group surrounding him, each easily knocking away the wights he sent toward them until suddenly streams of flames backed them. He was cut off from his army by a wall of flames and men, fire and blood.
"Kneel," Jon told the Night King, his eyes ice and fire as they met his inhuman gaze. "Kneel and let this end quickly."
The Night King kept Jon's gaze as he took a breath and raised his chin before his lips quirked into a smile and he raised his left hand. His sword in his right, his left clutched at the air which suddenly froze into a sharp spear. His head lowered, he gave Jon a slight nod.
Jon took a step forward and shook his head. "Together," he said before charging. Arya yelled first before they all joined the charge.
The Night King met Jon's slash while thrusting his spear at Arya, then swinging around, pushing Jon's sword aside and slamming the spear into Gendry's shield. He thrust it past Gendry toward Jorah, who pulled his shoulder away at the last moment, while bringing his sword down on Theon, who had help blocking from Edd's sword.
Garlan and Daemon rushed forward, but the Night King parried their strikes and dodged Daemon's thrown spear before slashing his own up, slicing through the front of his armor. The dornish man yelled and backed away while Garlan thrust Last Thorn at the Night King, who dodged and slammed the side of his spear into the knight's face. When he stumbled back the Night King slashed at him while turning to thrust his spear back at Sandor who came from his rear, turning to parry the greatsword as if it were a rapier.
Dirgo rushed past Sandor slashing at the Night King who pulled his sword hand to the side, slamming the pommel into the dothraki's head as he dodged. While the man stumbled, the Night King thrust his spear past Sandor to Brienne, who deflected it straight into Jaime's Widow's Wail, holding it in place as Giant's Nail slammed into it, shattering the spear.
The Night King dropped the remnants of the spear and backed away, turning to parry a strike from Jon. A split second later he began backing away, moving his head and shoulders slightly to avoid Arya's thrust until he suddenly dashed forward, sliding under one of her thrust and avoiding Gendry's hammer strike at his back to slam his left palm into Arya's chest. She was thrown off the ground, flying back until she hit Theon, who leapt up to take the impact of her before she hit the wall of flames behind them. Both rolled across the ground as Gendy fought the urge to rush to her side and Ghost appeared beside her protectively.
Edd dashed forward to slash at the Night King, who dodged the strike and slashed across Edd's shoulder before turning and cutting across Jorah's stomach. He went to thrust at Jon, but Jaime dashed forward, letting Widow's Wail push the icy sword off target while Jon thrust at the Night King's face.
Iced blue eyes watched the dark valyrian steel blade pass centimeters from his cheek before the Night King tilted his head, avoiding Jon's sudden swing. The moment the blade was past him the Night Kin spun, knocking aside Tormund's axe and slashing to the side, cutting into Brienne's leg.
Tormund and Jaime dashed to the Night King, who dodged their flurry of strikes before grabbing Tormund and throwing him into Jaime a moment before he slashed at both men, cutting their sides. The moment he stepped back he dashed forward, avoiding the greatsword strike that landed where he'd been and parrying the spear and shortsword of Gray Worm before grabbing the Unsullied by the face and held his sword out, letting it slice through across the torso of the Unsullied as he was thrown into the Dothraki.
Edmure and Gendry let out a yell as they charged with Arya and Theon to join Jon in facing off against the Night King. The frozen sovereign dashed forward to meet them, shifting to the left at the last moment.
Gendry moved to block a strike aimed at Edmure, who stepped past him with a slash the Night King avoided before slamming his fist into the Tully's chest. While he sucked in a breath the Night King turned, his sword rising, slashing across Edmure's bicep and collar.
The Night King went back and forth blocking strikes from Arya, Jon and Theon before finally taking a step forward and slamming his foot into Arya's chest. That knocked her back into Gendry, and he swiftly thrust his sword and turned, slashing through Gendry's right pauldron and blocking Jon and Theon's incoming strikes.
He then turned and turned back toward Arya and Gendry, thrusting his sword toward Arya's heart. At the last moment Gendry moved his shield against the blade, knocking the sword aside so it pierced Arya's right shoulder and Gendry's side. When the Night King turned again, Jon had turned his blade to block while Theon gasped, leaving himself open for the Night King's sword to slash across his stomach.
The Night King backed away, looking from Jon to his injured guards before arching his brow. From above Daenerys and Sansa saw Jon standing across from the Night King while all the rest lay bleeding.
His eyes were locked on Jon's when the Night King swung his sword to the left, knocking aside Arya's thrown catspaw dagger.
Jon took a breath before he dashed forward, slashing at the Night King. He dodged, but found Jon turning, swinging Nighttaker around for a backhanded stab at him. When he stepped back to avoid it he felt his shin slam into Jon's heel, making the Night King stumble back while Jon switched his grip and swung forward, forcing the Night King to block the strike which made him take a few shaky steps back before falling to the ground.
"Fuck me," Sandor marveled as he watched Jon stab at the Night King, who rolled aside and thrust his hand into the ground to throw himself back to his feet, barely avoiding a rising slash from Jon.
The moment he backed away a giant white wolf flew into his side, grabbing his left arm in his jaw and yanking the Night King aside hard enough as it turned while landing, throwing the inhuman aside. Before the Night King could retaliate he saw the wolf run off a split second before he heard the flap of wings and looked up to find all three dragons overhead.
He exchanged looks with Daenerys, Sansa and finally Jon as all three said, "Dracarys!"
The air filled with flame as all three dragons scorched the earth. While even that didn't seem to harm the Night King, it was enough to make him show a moment of concern as he was blinded by flames. When they finally began to fade he looked to where Jon had been and found only a white wolf glaring at him silently as the injured guard had risen to their feet, holding their arms as best they could.
It was the crunch of ashen earth that made the Night King turn and thrust his sword forward, but Jon deftly avoided it. When he tried his own thrust which the Night King dodged, Jon shifted Nighttaker and slammed the pommel into the Night King's jaw before turning and swinging at him. Though the Night King ducked his head to avoid the edge of the sword, Jon turned it down to block the Night King's sword as he tried to slash at him, forcing the icy blade into the earth as Jon turned with a yell and cut through the Night King's torso.
The world seemed to still as Jon took a breath and watched the Night King's face twist in pain before his body exploded into chunks of ice, unleashing a rush of wind that swept out from him, blowing out the fires around them.
At once every wight fell to the ground and the few remaining White Walkers screeched in agony as their bodies froze solid and shattered. Soldiers looked around in shock before their eyes traveled toward the shore where the saw Jon standing with his sword raised, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.
Turning to them, he raised his right hand with Nighttaker and the let out a cheer a moment before light broke the horizon. At last the Long Night was over and dawn had come for the living.
Notes:
I settled on Nighttaker because it's the same but opposite of Lightbringer. Jon isn't fulfilling prophecies, but making his own, creating his own legacy and dynasty rather than remaking old ones. It's a thing I tend to prefer over standard prophecy stories where it's all pretty much to the letter.
I'm sure I forgot someone here but there's a lot going on. I tried to use little moments to settle relationships in the first half and them make the key people had their moments with some fun groupings. Also I imagine some will be disappointed Ghost wasn't involved more, but I don't think it's even slightly realistic to have a giant direwolf in the chaotic fray at the end and survive, so he mostly took care of wights around them while the others fought.
So the big end Jon squad vs NK fight was written to Shredder's Suite from the original TMNT movie, particularly the bit from about 2:33 on repeat, and an MV using footage from the last Rurouni Kenshin movie's Kenshin squad vs Shishio fight. Doesn't matter, but I thought it funny and could give a sense of the kind of vibe I went for with all of them attacking NK but getting bodied.
I'm sure someone's going to be pissed Night King didn't kill more people, but I don't think you need character deaths to have drama. If you care about the characters them being at risk should be enough and if you don't care about them then why would their death's matter? So it's low deaths for named characters but hopefully still suspenseful.
I was originally toying with a more brutal, bloody fight, but decided that it fit more to have their unity be so strong that they only get relatively small wounds. Because they all work together they all make it through with only one or two scars. Plus, they won't have months off to heal from a brutal fight. There's still another war to fight.
