Lord Varys greeted Jamie as he and the Lannister army marched into Winterfell. Jamie had a feeling he was too late and the war for the North had already begun.
Missandi confirmed his fears when she gave Lord Varys the Raven from Last Hearth. "My lord, I'm grateful to see your army here in Winterfell. Perhaps you should stay, to defend the castle if our friends should fail."
Jamie gave orders to his men to have something to eat and drink, then make ready to march on to Castle Black. Sansa looked over her shoulder at Lord Varys, wondering if he had given up all hope those she loved would ever come home again. She turned to Ser Jamie and spoke as the Lady of Winterfell.
"If you think you will reach Castle Black in time to aid Jon and the others then go, but if not, then you must stay to help me defend my home. This I ask of you, Ser Jamie, this much you owe to House Stark," Sansa didn't hold back her feelings as she looked Jamie in the eyes.
"Sansa, I do owe you and your noble house much, but I march to Castle Black because your Queen showed me things... showed me the death of those I love most. I will leave some of my men here under your command, but I must go," Jamie took her hand, kissing the back of it before he went back to his men.
The time for talk was over. Sansa ordered her men to the battlements and around the walls and gates. The Lannister army that stayed behind stood ready to go into action upon Sansa's request.
Before Jamie marched his army out the gates of Winterfell, Lord Varys had a word with him. The Master of Whispers told him of the lies he spread throughout King's Landing and if they were victorious against the Night King, Daenerys would claim the Iron Throne. He told him the Dothraki were waiting in Dorne and the Second Sons had gone back to the Iron Islands to help Theon take the Salt Throne. Dany's army surrounded Cersei and were ready to go to war.
Jamie looked down at him, the scowl on his face saying everything. "Till then, Lord Varys," Jamie said as he rode off.
Missandi wasn't happy with Lord Varys; she couldn't understand why he would tell Jamie Lannister what they had planned for King's Landing. Varys turned to her, placing a palm upon her cheek.
"My child... when you've been around the Lannister's as long as I have, you learn how use their weaknesses against them. Tyrion will deal with his brother soon enough. The war for the Seven Kingdoms is far from over and I have given Ser Jamie something to think about," Varys smirked as he walked into the Great Hall, his mind always conjuring a new scheme.
Bran shook his head at the display before him. He had no time for the game Lord Varys was playing. He had to push his mind to find the gifts the Three Eyed Raven had awoken in him. Benjen had told him he was the Three Eyed Raven now and if that were so, he could see the battle, see if there was a way to end this before too many of his kin were lost.
Meera sat beside him, holding his hand and giving him encouragement. "I'm here and I'm not leaving your side, Bran.
He looked up at her, lacing his fingers into hers and smiled back at her. Meera wasn't sure if it was the talk of war and death or the fact that she couldn't deny she loved Bran any longer that spurred her to kiss him.
Bran placed his free hand on the back of her head, letting his fingers twist in her dark curls as he returned the kiss. She had always been there for him, giving her friendship and strength, but now she was giving him her heart.
That kiss was more than a declaration of love; it was pure and true enough to push Bran's mind forward to the battle. Meera lifted her head when she felt his lips stop moving and saw his eyes were a bright white. He was lost in a vision, lost to the gift that had been bestowed upon him.
Smoke was everywhere as Bran walked across the crimson snow. The sound of bone crunching, metal clashing and men crying out in agony surrounded him. He watched as wights battled brothers of the Nights Watch, as White Walkers crumbled under the blades of Valyrian steel and the Night King battle the dragons of fire and ice.
The wights outnumbered the living by ten to one but when the army of the Unsullied arrived, they evened out the odds. The battle waged on through the dusk of sunset till the dawn of morning.
The dead of the North were burned where they fell, but the war waged on. Jon fought White Walkers, wights and ice spiders as big as hounds. His sword gleamed like the sun, its blade sharp and true. He fought as his eyes gazed upward to his wife on her dragon of ice.
The Mother of Dragon's burned the Wildling forest, setting flame to everything in her path. The wight army came wave after wave, the Night King calling more and more of them to rise and fight. The crack in the ice had gotten wider, the entire wall on the verge shattering.
Bran placed his hand on the Wall and felt the power that still lived inside it. He looked up to see Wynter flying over him and felt the same power coming from the dragon and Careen. They had the power to end this Long Night together.
He walked to the lift and made his way up to the top of the Wall, from there he saw Wynter trying to repair the cracks. Her icy breath blew out a blue fire that frozen all it touched. He stood helpless as the Night King rode up behind Careen and raised his spear. Bran opened his mouth to scream at Careen but he was pulled back into his body.
"Careen… fly… fly home!" He screamed and Meera jumped.
"Bran... Bran..." Meera said to him, trying to calm him down.
"He knows, the Night King knows that Careen is his end. He knows and he won't stop until she's dead," Bran pulled Meera into his arms and began to sob on her shoulder.
~.~
Gendry left Quinn at the Inn in Winter Town, wasting no time to head straight for the Kingsroad and Castle Black. He could see the footprints in the trampled snow and he knew he must hurry if he was going to get the Wildfire to Jon in time.
His mind was still with Arya and what Cersei might be doing to her. If she was lost to him, then he had to do this for her. He pushed the horse on, the cart getting stuck in the deep snow.
No matter how hard he tried to free the cart from the ice and snow, it wouldn't budge and there was no way he was going to carry the barrel all the way to Castle Black.
"I pray to the Old Gods and New. I pray you find favor with me and grant me this one plea... please help me. For Arya, for House Stark... for the North," Gendry slumped down in the snow next to the cart and hung his head.
He was about to give into his defeat when the wind swirled around him, the snow lifted off the ground and the sky darkened over his head. "What in the seven hells is that?"
Wynter landed in the meadow beside him and Careen called to him. "Gendry of House Baratheon... I heard your prayers to the Old Gods and they have answered you. Come with me."
He couldn't believe his eyes. There before him was a dragon, white and blue with eyes that looked like crystal and upon its back was a maiden that could easily be an Old One.
Careen could feel the Old Ones still speaking to her, their voices a whisper in her head. She watched as Gendry took the barrel upon his shoulder and grip his father's War Hammer in the other hand. Wynter lowered her wing and sat closer to the ground as he climbed upon the cold, scaly beast.
He placed the small barrel between him and Careen and squeezed his legs tight against the dragon's side. She rose in the sky and soared over the land, passing the Lannister army as they marched along the Kingsroad.
When they landed just outside the gate of Castle Black the war was still being waged. Careen and Wynter had been repairing the Wall when they heard a voice telling them to fly home. When she looked down, she saw the Night King on the ground after he was knocked from his horse by Wynter's tail.
She heard Gendry's prayer when she soared in the sky and it led her to him. Gendry had a power him in that ran through his veins and the Old Gods saw fit to use him in the battle. Jon smiled when he saw Gendry, saw the Wildfire and the War Hammer. The battle was long from over and each time he thought all was lost, the Gods sent him more hope.
Tormund took the barrel from the young lad and Benjen made orbs of Wildfire for the Wildlings to use. This would give them the advantaged they needed.
As Tormund handed out the Wildfire orbs, he stopped when she saw Lady Brienne. She had just cut the head from a wight as she twirled around to face him. Her blonde hair was slicked back on her head, her face a flush red and her eyes were the bluest he'd ever seen.
"Tormund?" Brienne said to him, wondering why he was just standing there. He moved towards her, his right hand coming up and cupping her cheek as he covered her lips with his. At first, she fought him, and then she gave into the kiss and let the moment happen.
"If I was going to die tonight, I wasn't going to do it without doing that first," Tormund smirked back at her and waited for her to smack him. Instead, she grabbed him, pulling him to her and kissed him back with much fervor.
She released him and they stood there staring at each other. Tormund smiled when she smiled back at him. "If we lived through this night, there will be more of that."
"I might not be as pretty as that Lannister twat, but I know how to please a woman," he said as his smirk grew wider.
"Tormund!" Jon shouted for him and he turned to see a sea of wights rushing over the walls of the castle.
Gendry wasn't sure what to do or where to go, but something told him not to leave Jon Snow's side. Careen had locked eyes with her husband when they landed and Gendry knew his place was with him.
"You know how to use that?" Jon asked when he saw War Hammer and Gendry nodded his head. He knew how to forge iron and metal, knew how to swing a hammer in a blacksmith shop.
"I have your back," Gendry said as they rushed at the wall of wights coming at them. They were both tossed back on their asses when the Wildfire lite up the sky with a green hue, the explosion sending the wights in every direction.
They were evenly matched now, the Night King's army and Jon Snow's army. It was only a matter of wills now to see who would prevail.
Careen watched from Wynter as a White Walker jumped from atop the gate and landed on Jon. The White Walker lifted its spear to plunge it through Jon's chest when Gendry brought up his hammer, hitting the White Walker in the head and shattering it.
Jon looked up at Gendry in disbelief and took his hand. "I guess you really do know how to use it."
Gendry chuckled at Jon as he swung the hammer again, crushing a wight to pieces. "Stay with me, I might show you a thing or two."
Dany had her dragons land at the castle walls, using their fire to keep the monsters away. A mangled bear charged at Viserion, ripping at his side and causing the dragon to roar out in pain.
"Daenerys... send him back to Winterfell," Careen yelled as the dead bears under the Night King's control came out of the forest and straight for the dragons.
Rhaegal and Viserion were in the path of the bears, the massive white creatures big enough to rip through their scaly skin. Dany gave the command to fly and they did, leaving the battle to go back to Winterfell to lick their wounds.
Jon had fought for two days, had fought till his muscles were sore, his body was aching and his iron resolve was fading. He had to fight on, had to keep all under his watch safe, including the red-haired beauty he loved.
Thoros rushed to Jon, seeing in the flames the battle would not be won inside the protection of Castle Black, but beyond the Wall where the Night King ruled. He and Ser Beric walked to the tunnel, asking for the iron gate to be lifted. Jon wasn't sure why the Brotherhood would so recklessly go to their deaths.
"Ser Beric, we can't win out there," Jon shouted out above the sound of battle.
"Your grace, Thoros has seen your victory in the flame. You must go face him and become the Prince that was Promised," Beric's voice held such confidence, such believe in Jon he followed him out the tunnel with Killian, Ser Davos and Gendry by his side.
The Night King let out a sinister laugh, one that made every man tremble. Careen watched her beloved and brother walked out of the tunnel and towards the army of the dead.
Her heart raced in her chest, the Divine surging forth in a way she'd never felt before. She raised her hand and the creatures of the forest stopped. Every bear, every horse, every spider fell over dead as they were when the Night King rose them.
Jon pushed forward, hacking away at the wights around him. Dawn cut down White Walker after White Walker until he came face to face with the Night King.
"Face me, Night King!" Jon shouted, bringing Dawn up for him to see.
"Give me what I want, Divine," the Night King said loudly and Careen landed Wynter behind Jon.
"Come and claim her," she demanded and the Night King raised his arms again, but the dead did not rise for him.
The dead were no longer under the Night King's call. They answered to the Old Magic that flowed through Careen, the Old Magic of the forest that made the dead from beyond the Wall.
Careen smiled at the frosty King, raising her hands and pushed them back down. The wights stood frozen, their bodies like that of statues in a garden. The only thing that was still under the Night King's command were the White Walkers and he had very few of them left.
"This ends now," Jon said as he rose Dawn to cut the Night King down when, to his surprise, the Night King launched his icy spear and hit Wynter in the chest, piercing the dragon's heart.
The dragon fell over, its blood seeping on the frozen ground. Careen fell to her knees, her hands clutching her chest. Jon ran to her, lying Dawn on the ground so he could hold her in his arms.
She smiled up at him, her heart slowly beating. "Jon… he's come for what is his."
"What… no," Jon said as he held back his tears.
"He'll take Wynter… he'll raise his dead and with my dragon, he'll claim the Seven Kingdoms. You know what must be done. I've known it since the day Wynter woke. This ends in blood, my love. The Prince that is Promised will smite the Night King down and with his sword of fire and blood shall he bring the dawn. Do it, Jon… the Divine is strong and it's yours to take," she raised one trembling hand to his face as his tears streamed down his face.
"I… I can't," he said with quivering lips, his heart breaking a thousand times in his chest.
"For Jeddard… for Reamus… you must," she pulled him to her, their lips barely touching as her heart began to beat for the last time. Jon took Dawn in his hand as Careen rose on her knees and he held the tip of the sword to her chest. He looked over at Killian, wishing he didn't have to see this.
Killian nodded back at him as the Night King walked over to Wynter and waited for her to die. Jon looked Careen in the eyes, wishing Melisandre hadn't been right.
"You are my breath, my heart, my love and my soul and I shall find you… in the next life, I shall find you," his words poured out with his tears as he drove the sword into Careen's chest. The white of her eyes turned a soft blue as the power of the Divine went into Dawn.
Jon pulled the sword back out, Careen's blood turning into a brilliant burning flame. He turned to the Night King, all his anger, fury and passion now directed to killing the being before him.
Thoros raced to Careen's body, picking her up and taking her back to the castle. Killian, Gendry, Ser Davos and Ser Beric walked behind Jon as he stood before the enemy.
There were no words to be said, no taunting or snide remarks. Jon held death in his hands and everything in the forest knew it, could feel it.
The Night King placed his hands on Wynter, trying to raise the might beast from death. Dany landed Drogon just inched from them and with Drogon's fire, burned Wynter till nothing remained.
Jon swung his sword, the flames lighting up the night when the sound of the Lannister army marching into Castle Black echoed through the air. The battle was near an end as what was left of the wights in the courtyard perished.
The Sword of the Morning, the Prince that was Promised, the King in the North, those were the names Jon Snow would be known for, but husband and father were the only titles he wanted. With a turn of his body and a flip of his wrist, he ended the Long Night when he sunk Dawn into the Night King's chest, to the hilt.
He fell to his knees and Killian and Gendry were quickly to his side. The morning light crept up over the mountains, casting the light of a new day over the gleaming white world around them.
Gendry helped Jon to his feet as Killian braced his weight against him. "I have you, brother."
Slowly they made their way back into the castle. Cheers of victory were heard, shouts of King in the North as they walked by, but there was no joy in this victory for Jon Snow.
~.~
Lady Brienne's eyes went wide when she saw Thoros carrying Careen's dead body up the steps to the Lord Commanders room. Tormund and Brienne looked at each other, knowing Jon would rip this world apart now.
Thoros laid her on a table, praying over her body. "Lord of Light, hear my prayer and give back to this, your servant that has been taken. She gave her life so the Prince that was Promised could end the Long Night. The fire of her heart brought the dawn; now give her back the light of years."
A knock on the door brought Thoros out of his prayers. He opened it to see Jamie Lannister, the Lion of the South.
Jamie walked over to Careen, her complexion and hair like that of the girl that he remembered. "I'm so sorry, my lady. You were a brave and noble Queen and the South will not forget you. I shall not forget."
He kissed her forehead, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. Jamie walked out when Ser Beric walked in. Thoros began to pray over Careen, as he'd done over Beric so many times.
"It's not working," he said to Beric, unsure why the Lord was not answering his prayer.
Beric pulled a chair up next to the table, placing his hand on Careen's wounds. Her blood was still warm as it trickled from her body and onto his palms. "My lady, the dawn has come… rise."
Jon burst through the door, shouting for everyone to leave. He crumbled over Careen's body, sobbing as he scooped her in his arms. Ser Beric placed a kiss on her cheek before he left Jon alone with his bride.
Thoros stopped at the door, giving Jon a few words of comfort. "The Lord of Light is still with you, Jon Snow. He brought you back for this purpose and he will not leave you in the dark."
Jon cursed the Lord of Light and the Old Gods for taking his love from him. His sons would grow up like he did, not knowing a mother. There was no good in this, no victory in her death and he would never be whole again. He took her life and how could he raise their sons knowing he was the reason they no longer had a mother.
Daenerys walked in with her head bowed down. "Jon, I'm sorry about your Careen. She was a noble and brave woman. She gave her life for you… for your sons, so that the North and the Seven Kingdoms could have another day."
"Fuck them all," Jon said as he lifted his red rimmed eyes to the Mother of Dragons.
"I go South now, to take the Iron Throne. The Lannister army leaves as we speak, to get back to their Queen. When I march into King's Landing, I would like to have you by my side," Dany said softly as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
Jon glared at her, his anger seething from his eyes. "Take your Iron Throne… give the Seven Kingdoms a Targaryen Queen. You will sit upon a throne that isn't yours. My father should have been King… my father died before he could name me and my mother died giving birth to me. I'm not a Snow, I'm not Ned Stark's bastard. I was born the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark."
The room went silent as Daenerys stared at Jon, remembering the stories that Ser Barristan told her. She sat in the corner of the room, her chest feeling tight.
Jorah stood in the doorway, listening to their conversation and waited for the right time to tell Dany he was well. When he saw Jamie Lannister, he knew he had to protect his Queen. She looked up to see him and the joy in her eyes poured out as tears.
"Jorah, you're well," she said as he took her hand and led her out of the room. They stood at the top of the stairs as all there waited for Jon to come back with Careen's body.
"Your grace, let Lord Snow grieve. We have much to talk about," Jorah walked Daenerys down the stairs and into the Great Hall where Greyworm was waiting for her.
The knowledge that Jon was a Targaryen had started to sink in. She had a nephew and he was Rhaegar's son. If she could bring him out of his grief, they would conquer the world together. She sat in silence, contemplating all her options.
A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing. The Long Night has ended and the sun didn't rise for some. I hope you continue to read and enjoy. I promise, you'll get a new chapter soon. Also, many, many thanks to CLTex for all the reviews.
