Happy Friday everyone,
Hope you all had a nice Christmas and got some cool presents :D
This chapter is a bit of a massacre and is entirely focused up at the Wall so enjoy :)
Chapter 38: A Brother's Bond
A few days later ….
Courtyard of Castle Black, just beneath the Wall, Two weeks ride from Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North
The leading Northern contingent of soldiers passed through the open wooden doors of Castle Black and the party stopped in the middle.
Robb surveyed the open ground around him with Lord Umber by his side. Brothers of the Night's Watch were standing looking up at him and his men. They had clearly just been practicing their swordsmanship. Robb spotted a particularly humourless looking grey-haired man before finding the person he was truly seeking.
His brother.
Jon Snow stood on the wooden battlements, staring down at the Northmen that were streaming into Castle Black with astonishment on his face and a hint of relief.
Robb dismounted and with haste walked up the battlements and gave his brother a massive bear hug.
"I have missed you. It has been too long." Robb said still holding their embrace.
"War tends to keep you busy. Your Grace would- " Jon tried.
"Jon, we are brothers," Robb said once he had taken a step back. "You don't have to address me like that."
Jon nodded with fondness and became aware that all eyes in Castle Black were currently watching their interactions.
"Maybe we should talk where we won't be overheard," Jon suggested.
"Lead the way brother. I am but a guest of the Lord Commander. Speaking of which who is your new Lord Commander in the wake of Jeor Mormont's death?"
"That would be me," a voice devoid of any emotion said behind Robb.
The King in the North turned to see the humourless man he had seen earlier looking back at him. He noticed how Jon tensed beside him in the presence of this grizzled man.
"And who are you?" Robb questioned aggressively.
"I am Ser Alliser Thorne, master-at-arms of Castle Black and acting Lord Commander until the new Lord Commander has been selected," he said in a sharp and cold tone.
Robb took a few more seconds to size up the man who stood in front of him. "We have much to discuss then if the letter I received was truthful."
"The letter held no lies, your Grace. The dead walk beyond the Wall, the Wildlings seek to tear the Wall down and we do not have the numbers to defend it," Ser Alliser said bitterly.
"It is a good omen that I am here isn't it then," Robb replied trying to hide his distaste for the acting Lord Commander.
"This way your Grace, Lord Commander," Jon intervened as he began to lead the way to the common hall of Castle Black.
Jon listened and watched as his brother and Ser Alliser Thorne continued their battle of words from earlier.
"How many men did you bring with you?" Ser Alliser interrogated.
"Three-thousand."
"Only three-thousand," exclaimed Ser Alliser. "The Wildlings have an army nearing one-hundred-thousand."
"Maybe the news didn't reach the Wall but I have been fighting a war and I don't see any other army here."
"Is that what you call what you were doing," Ser Alliser baited.
Jon saw Robb's hands curl into fists. He stood ready to stop his brother from inflicting too much damage on Ser Alliser but the sound of wood on stone made the two heated men look towards the open doorway of the hall.
There stood Maester Aemon leaning on a wooden stick and Sam Tarly who held a slightly worried expression on his face.
The scholarly men made their way to the high table were Robb and Ser Alliser stood facing each other and sat down. Jon copied their movements and the quarrelling men also sat down.
Maester Aemon cleared his throat, "It is a great honour to welcome you to Castle Black your Grace. And I thank you for responding to my letter."
"You mentioned that without our help that the Wall would fall. That a horde of Wildlings would flood through into Westeros. They would hit the North first so of course I take an interest," Robb expounded in an annoyed voice while still looking at Ser Alliser.
"Really? Because it seems the North hasn't taken an interest in what happens beyond the Wall for a while and I thought you had a war you were fighting," Ser Alliser aimed back at Robb.
Robb held his cool, "I am here now Ser Alliser and I suggest we focus on the future not on the past which you seem unable to let go off. I know which side you fought on in Robert's Rebellion so I won't be taking your advice on how to win wars. I suggest we turn our combined attention to how to defend the Wall."
"Here, here," Maester Aemon said as he tapped the wooden table with his hand a few times before Ser Alliser could reply to the King in the North.
Jon felt less anxious as the conversation turned to the defence of the Wall. Both Ser Alliser and Robb agreed on the strategy that should be employed. They would place the majority of the men on top of the Wall and rain fire down on the Wildings trying to breach the Wall.
If the Wildlings tried to scale the Wall that would take hours and the Night's Watch had counter measures in place to deal with that threat and with the added numbers that the Northern army gave them, they would have enough archers to decimate the unarmoured advancing wildling army below them.
They had considered everything. Except one thing.
"What about an attack from the south," Jon spoke up.
Robb gestured for him to continue.
"The Wildling party I scaled the Wall with, they numbered roughly five hundred. They are still in the Gift," Jon said ignoring the dirty look Ser Allison was throwing his way.
"I encountered some Wildlings on my way here but they were only a few dozen," Robb shared.
"So, there is still a considerable rabble of Wildlings south of the wall," Ser Alliser clarified. "Lord Snow you will remain in Castle Black and organise the defences against any attack."
Jon was too shocked that Ser Alliser had given him that responsibility that he hesitated to respond.
"I will give you some of my men under Lord Umber as well," Robb said as he looked down to his hands. "Those Wildlings south of the Wall are responsible for Rickon's death so make sure they pay for it."
"Rickon is dead," Jon said slowly.
"Yes, he was found butchered in the Gift," Robb replied. "The men who found his body said they saw Wildlings in the vicinity."
Jon pushed past his grief to ask, "Was he killed by arrows?"
"No," Robb answered confused why his brother would ask how Rickon was killed.
"Excuse me you Grace," Ser Alliser said bluntly, clearly having no interest in the family struggles of the Starks, before leaving to prepare Night's Watch for the imminent assault on the Wall.
Maester Aemon with Sam's help also left the hall sighting the need for rest.
Jon relaxed a bit into his chair as he let his stoic and brooding demeanour faulter in the presence of his brother.
"How is Arya?" he asked.
"She is loving being Lady of Winterfell," Robb replied sarcastically with a grin.
Jon laughed in response.
There was nothing lady like in his youngest sister and he imagined Arya was in a sort of living torment having to tend to the matters of running Winterfell in Robb's absence.
Nighttime a week later ….
Top of the Wall, Two weeks ride from Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North
Robb, Ser Alliser and Janos Slynt stood atop the Wall looking down at the great fire raging before them and the Wildling army emerging from the Haunted Forest. The sheer amount of people walking towards the Wall was a sight Robb would never forget.
We have to kill all of them, Robb reminded himself.
This was going to be a long night but this is what King's did. They protected their people. They kept fighting no matter how tired they were, no matter how daunting the task was ahead.
Robb heard an almighty roar and strained his eyes to find its source. Fuck. The source was a giant riding an equally large mammoth.
"Archers nock and draw, everyone else hold," Ser Alliser shouted.
Northmen and men of the Night's Watch complied with his order. Before another command could be issued a horn blew taking everyone's attention away from the enormous army below them.
"Castle Black is under attack," Ser Alliser explained. "Your bastard brother was right."
"You understand the Wall's defences better than I. You have command of my men up here. I am going down there," Robb said while pointing to Castle Black wanting to help his brother.
In the next second Janos Slynt who had been standing a few feet from Ser Alliser and Robb flew upwards into the air. As his screams faded, Robb looked down the Wall. He saw a giant with a bow and quickly backed away from the edge and nodded at Ser Alliser before running to the lift.
Ser Alliser called, "Nock, draw loose," as if his second in commands death hadn't just happened.
Same time ….
Castle Black, just beneath the Wall, Two weeks ride from Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North
Sam held Pyp as blood flowed from his puncture wound. He knew Pyp wouldn't survive an arrow through the throat so tried to reassure him in his dying moments.
Sam heard Jon's call to retreat and with a sad glance back at his fallen brother he dashed back towards the inner buildings of Castle Black. He rushed back to see that some Wildlings had already gotten beyond the outer walls and were fighting with the Northmen and Night's Watch men.
A nasty looking Thenn started to run towards him. Sam fumbled with the crossbow that was in his hands. The weapon felt foreign to him. He was much more use too and comfortable with a quill or a book. Lucky for him he didn't have to use the crossbow as Ghost jumped on the advancing Thenn and tore out his throat.
"Good … boy," Sam said in a state of shock.
"Go to the kitchens Sam," Jon said suddenly as he ran to and grabbed his panicking friend. "You can't help here and there is no point you dying trying to be brave."
Sam nodded once before ducking and making his way towards the main buildings.
Jon immediately turned around to see Lord Umber engaged in an even melee contest with a fierce looking ginger Wildling. Both looked like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Robb descended down the wall in the lift observing the battle below. The Wildlings had managed to scale what little defences Castle Black had on its southern boundary and were fighting Brothers of the Night's Watch and Northmen in the training area.
Robb spotted Jon who was engaged fighting a bald Wildling and his brother didn't look comfortable.
"Can this damn contraption go any faster," Robb vented as he was powerless to help Jon in that moment.
A few seconds later the lift reached the floor. Robb and his men immediately charged out of the lift only to be greeted with a barrage of arrows. Robb took cover behind some barrels but peeked a glance to see a female wildling handling a bow up on the wooden battlements that the Wildlings had first climbed over to reach Castle Black.
Robb looked back to assess the men he had been on the lift with to see that the young boy who had been operating the lift had been impaled against the leaver with an arrow.
Robb spotted about half a dozen Night's Watchmen crouched amongst his own.
"What are you doing?" he asked the black clad men.
A gruff man replied, "Ser Alliser wants the gates to be held. The Wildling's giants are trying to force the outer gate open as we speak and he doesn't think it will hold."
Robb shook his head, "Six men against two giants. What is your name?"
"Grenn."
"Take a few dozen of my men then Grenn and hold the gate."
"Yes, your Grace," Grenn replied and headed off with half of Robb's men.
Robb returned his attention to the battlefield. Ghost and Grey Wind were tearing into any Wildling that got to close to them. Jon was still fending off the large bald Wildling. Robb started to run towards his brother when he heard a cry that ripped through his body.
He turned to see Lord Umber up on the wooden bridge with a broad sword buried through his midriff. The brutish ginger Wildling that held the broad sword kicked the Northern Lord down from the bridge and the huge Lord landed with a thud on the muddy ground near to where Janos Slynt's impaled body rested.
Robb rushed toward the fallen Lord.
"Lord Umber-"Robb started as he crouched beside him.
"Never mind me lad, I am gone all ready," the mortally wounded Lord gasped out. "Just get that fucking ginger bastard for me. Kill the fucker who killed me is all I ask."
Robb gripped Lord Umber's hand and felt the ghost of his missing fingers before looking back at the wooden bridge to locate the Wildling that had killed the GreatJon Umber.
Robb locked eyes with his target and they rushed towards each other as Northmen and Wildlings clashed around them.
"What is your name?" Robb demanded as he readied himself with his sword out in front of him.
"Tormund Giantsbane," the huge Wildling bellowed as he charged the King in the North.
Robb dodged the crude swing of the broad sword and countered with his own strike but the Wildling was deceptively quick for his size and jumped back out of the path of Robb's strike.
"Tell me was it you that butchered my little brother or was it another of your party?" Robb snarled while holding his defensive stance and circling the Wildling.
"What are you talking about," Tormund roared as he swung his broad sword in a low arc.
Robb easily parried the blow, "I am talking about how your party came across a defenceless little boy out in the open and stabbed him to death with no mercy."
"We didn't come across a little boy," Tormund said watching Robb carefully for his next strike, "and if we had the Thenns wouldn't have let the body go to waste."
"You lie," Robb growled as he rushed Tormund but the fierce Wildling had anticipated the action and backed away swiftly out of Robb's range.
Suddenly a Northern solider tried to intervene in their contest but Tormund easily dispatched the solider with a few swipes of his blade.
Tormund quickly turned back to face Robb, noting how the boy hadn't taken advantage of the soldier's interruption despite his obvious rage.
He wouldn't have lasted beyond the Wall, Tormund thought. There was no place for honour in those frozen lands.
They once again reengaged, with Tormund as the aggressor throwing wild swings at Robb with the younger and more nimble man parrying and dodging waiting for his opening.
He found that opening as Tormund aimed a powerful strike at Robb but missed completely and Robb was able to get in close and slash at the Wildling's slide. The wound was clearly a fight ender but the Wildling stayed on his feet.
Robb eyed the Wildling with respect, "You fought well and your name will go down in history as killing one of the greatest Northern Lords that there has ever been and almost killing a King."
"What?" Tormund said as he bent a knee due to pain.
"I am Robb Stark, King in the North."
Tormund started laughing, "Kings mean nothing to me, I have seen dead men walk, I have killed giants. You don't understand what is beyond the Wall."
"And you will never understand what is south of the Wall," Robb said as he cut off Tormund's head with a clean swing of his sword.
Jon buried the hammer into Styr's head and watched as the Thenn chieftain fell to the ground. He looked up to see Ygritte pointing her bow at him with an arrow drawn.
Jon smiled at her, expecting the arrow to his heart any second but she lowered her bow and dropped it to the ground and raised her hands. Northmen were approaching her position from both walkways of the bridge.
Jon scanned around him.
The majority of the Wildlings were dead. Only a dozen or so were still alive but they had surrendered with their weapons tossed on the floor.
Jon heard his brother command that the surrendered Wildlings be tied up and placed in Castle Black's cells.
Jon couldn't keep the relief off his face when he heard that.
Ygritte would live. The surviving Wildlings were rounded up and pushed towards the common hall.
Robb came up beside Jon and clapped a hand to his shoulder, "Glad you aren't dead."
"Me too," replied Jon as he looked up at the Wall. "But the fight isn't over yet. Mance's army is still assaulting the Wall."
There was a loud crash. Robb and Jon exchanged looks. They both turned their heads towards the sound.
The gates. The giants. Both brothers rallied their men and ran towards the gates.
They reached the tunnel. The outer gate was shut but the inner gate had been smashed to pieces. A dozen or so Northmen lay strewn along the tunnel with Brothers of the Night's Watch intermingled among them.
They all appeared dead.
But what held the attention of the gathered men was the dead giant that had fallen just a few feet from the tunnels exit.
Robb looked around the tunnel, "I thought there were two giants?"
Jon was about to reply when he heard a cough. He hastily looked for the source of the sound and when he did his heart nearly missed a beat.
"Grenn," Jon shouted as he found his friend sitting against the tunnels wall.
"Did you think a giant could kill me?" Grenn said in between breaths.
Jon smiled and helped his friend up.
Grenn let out a grunt of pain. "The bastard threw me against the wall; I think my leg is broken."
"Then let's get you to the Maester," Robb said as he supported Grenn from his other shoulder. "A man who killed a giant can surely survive a broken leg."
Grenn chuckled though his pain, "I can't wait to see what names Pyp comes up with when I tell him."
Early next morning …
Common Hall, Castle Black, Beneath the Wall
Ser Alliser met with Jon and Robb in the common hall.
"I hear you took prisoners," he said sharply to the two young men. "Two females and a dozen men."
"Yes, and I hear you held the Wall," Robb responded.
"Mance Rayder is still out there with Gods know how many Wildlings and they aren't going to slink off back into the night. They are here to either breach the wall or die," Ser Alliser lectured.
"Correct you are Lord Commander," Maester Aemon's voice floated down the hall. "Your Grace, a letter came for you."
To save the old man walking to him Robb got up from the table he had been sat at and approached the old Maester and accepted the letter.
He unfurled the letter and read it while he made his way back to the table. Only Jon noticed how his face tightened the more he read. Robb folded the letter and addressed Ser Alliser.
"You held the Wall and fended of the biggest Wildling army ever seen. To Ser Alliser Thorne," Robb toasted.
Huge cheers rang out in the hall from both the remaining Night's Watch men and the Northern soldiers.
Robb sent Jon a clear look as the cheers filled the air. Follow me.
And Jon did exactly that as Robb walked out of the hall and stood inside the lift. As the lift made its way up the Wall. Robb passed the letter to Jon.
Jon couldn't believe what he was reading and turned to Robb with concern in his eyes.
"Winterfell has fallen … to Ramsey Snow?" Jon said in disbelief.
"According to that letter yes and he killed his father so he now commands the Bolton forces. The Karstarks joined with his assault force and they took Winterfell."
"What about Arya?" Jon asked quickly.
Robb exploded. The emotion he had kept in while reading the letter in the hall came out now.
"I don't fucking know Jon. I have read the letter same as you."
"We have to go back to Winterfell," Jon ignored Robb's outburst. "We have to save Arya."
"We? You are a brother of the Night's Watch. I will have to go back to Winterfell. I will have to rescue Arya. I will have to save the North. It all falls to me," ranted Robb as he looked out into the night.
Jon placed a hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to do this alone. I have served the Night's Watch faithfully and once we have defeated Mance's army I will ride with you against our enemies."
Robb turned towards his brother. "I appreciate that Jon, I really do but we don't have the numbers to take back Winterfell. I have maybe three-thousand hundred men loyal to me here at the Wall. The Bolton and Karstark forces will have perhaps double that behind Winterfell's walls."
The lift reached the top of the Wall and both dejected men walked out into the cold wind to gaze at the darkness below them.
Robb let out a desperate laugh, "Enemies in front of me and enemies behind me. The Old Gods are not making this easy for me."
When Jon remained silent, Robb turned to him. "I know you have never been the most forthcoming of my siblings but this is the point in the conversation where you give me encouragement."
Jon slowly looked from the blank darkness below to his brother's tired face.
"I think I can do better than that," Jon said as a smile started to form on his face.
"I was beginning you think you had forgotten how to smile," Robb teased, "But do go on, what do you mean?"
"You need an army to take back Winterfell, well I know where an army is and I know what they want," Jon said pointing down into the darkness.
"The Wildlings? Are you serious? We have just spent the last day killing them," Robb said in an incredulous voice.
"Yes, and they are losing, which means that they are desperate. If you let them pass through the Wall and promise that they can settle in the Gift they will fight for you."
"What guarantee would I have that as soon as they are through the Wall they won't just simply disband and run off?" Robb inquired.
"Because we will make it clear that the Bolton's and Karstarks, if allowed to rule in the North won't tolerate Wildlings living in the North," Jon explained willing Robb to see the worth in his plan.
Robb thought through his brother's words. He did need an army and it was within his power to give the Wildlings what they wanted.
"Fine but I can't imagine Ser Alliser will be happy about this. I presume you would want to negotiate with the King-beyond-the-Wall yourself?"
"I know him and I am the only person they won't kill on sight."
Robb finding that dubious said, "Take the prisoners with you just in case your charming smile isn't enough to stop them punching your teeth out."
"As my King commands me," Jon replied with a hint of humour.
Robb didn't reply but simply kept watching the darkness as the light started to sweep across the frozen land below.
A few hours later….
Courtyard, Castle Black, Beneath the Wall
"Enough Ser Alliser. You maybe the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch but you are not in command here. Without me and my men the Wall would have been overrun and the Night's Watch would be no more," Robb said firmly to the red-faced man in front of him as he walked along the wooden bridge.
"For generations we have defended the Wall from the Wildlings and now you want to let them walk through?" Ser Alliser said in an exacerbated voice as his hands gripped the wooden railing and he noted how many Northmen were staring up at him.
"Yes, Ser Alliser and you and your remaining men would be wise not to stop me," Robb said clearly as he saw the rage intensify in the older man's eyes.
"You are wrong Ser Alliser," Maester Aemon's voice cut through the tense air.
Both Robb and Ser Alliser turned to see that Maester Aemon had ventured out into the cold air.
"The Wall wasn't built to keep the Wildlings out. It was built to keep the White Walkers out," the old Maester stated.
Robb acknowledged Maester Aemon's words before looking down into the courtyard where the captured Wildlings waited.
"Jon will be ready to depart soon. I understand that some Brothers of the Nights Watch have volunteered to join him."
"Yes, and they are damn fools," Ser Alliser grumbled at Robb.
Jon entered the courtyard with two Brothers of the Night's Watch flanking him. One he recognised as Grenn who was limping slightly. Clearly his leg wasn't broken, Robb smirked to himself. Robb left Ser Alliser to stew and walked down the battlements to greet his brother.
"You better be sure about this," Robb said.
Before Jon could reply, the other Brother of the Nights Watch spoke up.
"Yeah, he better be or the Thenn's will have our guts for lunch."
"Edd, Mance is an honourable man," Jon remarked to the man beside him.
"So you keep saying," Edd shot back.
"Shall we go? I don't fancy making the trip back in darkness," Grenn said beside Jon before adding as an afterthought, "If we make the trip back that is."
Robb stretched out his hand, "Good luck brother."
Jon took his hand, "For Winterfell."
Author' Notes:
The North comes back into the story with a bang but Ramsey makes sure not everything goes Robb's way.
Ygritte and Grenn survive in my version of the Battle at the Wall however there is a rather long list of RIPs this chapter ;)
This chapter marks the end of my AU Season 4 (This is an AU and lot of things have changed but I like to note which season I am in as it helps me track the timelines in my mind). It has taken many more chapters than I initially planned but there was just so many scenes I didn't want to cut out and plots that I would not relinquish. Season 4 was my favourite season of the TV show but onwards into Season 5!
Did the Battle at Castle Black go the way you thought it would?
Reviews:
General shout out – I hope you all had a good Christmas! I wanted to say that the support whether it is reading the chapters when they come out, favoriting/following or reviewing the story has been outstanding and has really pushed me to produce the best chapters and plotlines that I can as well as motivate my brain to keep churning out cool ideas.
I really was fucking terrified of the possible responses to the last chapter but everyone has been so chilled out and cool with their reviews even if they didn't like it.
You bunch are the best! Thank you everyone!
Purple-pygmy-puff16 – I thought it might be a hard read for you but ultimately, I think an escape or a death would have been a bit of a cop out. Thanks for the compliment though and I hope the following chapters are more your cup of tea :)
Bvu – Okay so this person comments the exact same thing every time I post a chapter (thanks for commenting every chapter) so I am going to turn his/her reply section into a 'guess who said this quote' with bonus points for naming who they were saying it to and in what episode (number or title will do). Try not to use google!
"Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick; a shadow on the wall."
Dark Topaz – Well Jamie left just before the Purple Wedding and that was only two weeks before the start of Chapter 37 (I know it probably feels a lot longer) so I think the timings work.
Lifeisaloha – Thanks for commenting. Please see the reply to Dark Topaz :)
Guest (Commented on 15/12/2019) – You and me both! LOL
What has been said and done – Hey there! No worries :) I really put a lot of effort at the planning stage to show that tension throughout the story as I think the two characters do/would genuinely have that type of chemistry and they have had so many cool moments between them and dare I say share a few personality traits. Thanks for saying I kept Tywin in character as I was sweating about that as there is obviously no material to take from and he is a hard character to write in that type of scene. I think Littlefinger's and Lysa's death is the moment I am most proud of as I had been planning it from the very first chapter and I (in my opinion) managed to twist the motives and personalities of the characters towards that moment as well as make it seem like an event that would happen in my own AU – i.e Tywin killing Joffrey fit as Joffrey tried to kill Tywin.
Kenna's desk is going to be cool as fuck. Imagine walking into her study and just being confronted with four human skulls (Euron's, Mountain's, Lysa's and Littlefinger's) and the stories behind them :D Ramsey is a douche bag! Thank you :)
Onesinglebird – Aw thank you so much for saying that. I know it has been the most controversial thing I have written for this story so far so thank you for telling me how you felt about it. It is really encouraging :) Yeah, those visions are a bit of a worry aren't they /
Chm01 – Yes Mr/Mrs/Ms Smarty Pants you were right. Thanks for being considerate :) You have Tywin's thinking correct – he won't leave his legacy in the hands of anyone else. Well the cover image for the story is supposed to be Kenna but with blue eyes (couldn't find one with blue eyes) but continue imagining Evie Frye if that image is established in your mind :)
PS - I now want to play Syndicate now XD
Svenion – I do have an idea as I have plotted and partially written the rest of ARC II. I think it is a 'dance' as the story has highs and lows, it goes fast and slow …. So yeah, a dance.
Veronicatolisano – Thanks! I have invested a lot of time into the Tywin and Kenna dynamic so I really appreciate you saying you are into their relationship :)
DannyBlack70 – That is fine I was anticipating not everyone would like the concept but thanks for saying it was done well and within the realms of the possibly for the story.
Kenna still considers herself honorable (hence she upheld her end of the promise/deal) but like Ned with Jon Snow/Targaryen I think she would put the safety of the child above the morals of her house in this instance but we will see when the story gets to that point.
Thanks Danny! Tywin and Kenna will continue to interact throughout the story until one dies obviously but I won't be pushing their romantic interactions to the forefront of the story like I did last chapter as I much more enjoy their plotting and agonistic actions towards each other.
White Walker (Guest) – Hey WW, it pushed me to make the chapter better so don't feel bad! I felt it was the natural course of action for the two characters as well :) That is a very well put point regarding the rape/consent issue of the scene. I felt that with the two characters and their personalities the scene would work best not being overly descriptive as the act is a means to an end for both of them really. Funny you should mention Oberyn … ;P
I feel a bit honoured to be honest :) Fair enough and I totally get your reactions (although some emoji attempts, I may not understand LOL). Thanks for the hug *returns the virtual hug and produces a bag of chocolate from behind my back* and the support.
NightlyRowenTree – Haha okay I will :)
NVCII – Your review is a bit all over the place but I love it :) Makes it a bit of a puzzle to make sure I answered all your thoughts!
It probably surprised a few people how the scene played out but a deal is a deal (to Kenna anyway). I would be honoured if you wrote fanfiction about my fanfiction just let me know I would love to read it :D
There is lots more North storyline coming! Haha regarding your season 8 rant I am so with you there! I knew it would be unsettling, sorry! Oh Jasper, he was a good egg but (probably because he was a good egg) he died too soon :( Oh wow I am not that cruel and Robb killed the Mountain in Chapter 13. It would have been a bit dishonorable to try to kill Tywin and escape King's Landing before ensuring her bit of the deal was complete but I get why that would have been a good scene :D
Thanks for saying 'Dance of the Falcon' is a good story :D Dany will only be briefly mention here and there in ARC II she plays a much bigger role in ARC III. This is my first novel length story so I am beaming ear to ear with your comment regarding my writing :) 3
R.I.P
Janos Slynt (killed by the giant Dongo with a massive arrow bolt)
A better death than he deserved in my opinion.
Pypar "Pyp" (Killed by one of Ygritte's arrows through the throat)
I really liked Pyp in the show so this was a bit sad for me but I can't have too many character's surviving, can I?
Thenn Warg (Ghost tore out his throat as he advanced on Sam)
Meh…..
Olly (Shot by Ygritte with an arrow when she was trying to kill Robb and the men in the lift)
I know he is a kid but …. I don't feel bad. He died … "For the Watch" …. Okay I feel a little bad but at least he didn't get stabbed to death multiple times by different people ….. :P
Lord 'GreatJon' Umber (Killed by Tormund in one-on-one combat with a broad sword through the stomach)
I think Lord Umber was happy with his own death. I mean he just wanted a good time :) But he did play a vital part in Robb's war efforts. Will the Umber's still support him now?
Tormund Giantsbane (Killed by Robb by way of decapitation in revenge for Lord Umber)
Robb wasn't going to let GreatJon Umber's death go unavenged. Hope their one-on-one combat scene was good as I think they would be quite evenly matched with Tormund's brute strength against Robb's silky sword skills. Maybe Tormund has a shot with Brienne in the afterlife? LOL
Styr of the Thenns (Killed by Jon with a solid hammer hit to the head)
This dude was always going to die and I liked his ending in canon so reused it to set up the Ygritte bit that came next.
Mag 'the Mighty' Mar Tun Doh Weg (Killed by Grenn and the other men in the tunnel with many many sword thrusts)
I wanted Grenn to live so we would have Grenn the 'Giantslayer' to play with. Sadly, this meant Mag 'the Mighty' had to still die in the tunnel but Dongo is still stomping around with Mance so the giants aren't finished yet.
Lord Roose Bolton (Death mentioned in the letter Ramsey sent to the Wall. Presumed killed by his own son in a yet unknown manner)
A little bit conflicted over this one. Unlike in canon he didn't betray Robb and grew to appreciate Robb's strategic talents. Unfortunately, for Ramsey to rise his father had to die :(
Next up: Robb gains a foothold in the war against Ramsey, Arya dances in the shadows, Tywin received an unexpected visitor.
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See you next chapter :)