Chapter 7:

Author's note:

This chapter will be very graphic and bloody. It's as graphic as the book series. It's currently the most graphic chapter of this story. I hope you'll enjoy the chapter. There has been a lot of work in the previous two chapters.

Kind regards,

JF2

"Don't worry, Focho." Sanuj said. "Your Joka will be just fine. She's on the ship with the others who can't fight. We can't die but by drowning, remember?" "Aye, that's what worries me. It's a port after all." He nodded and went to Ziahor. "Will we be fine? What's our strategy? What …" "Stop. We all will be fine, believe me. I've explained the strategy, remember? We'll surround them and anyone who tries to escape, will be killed by your friend, who will be on the fleet." They had settled a camp, close enough to the ships, far enough to not be attacked by flood. The horses were made ready by their riders on the east side of the camp. Before Sanuj would mount his horse, he'd talk to the Voice. Gerion? Yes. Sanuj chose his words carefully, making sure he didn't make a mistake. Can you take over when we're fighting? You're a fighter after all, aren't you? Aye, I am. Will we try it out now, that you're taking me over? Sanuj hadn't even finished his sentence before he felt a force pushing him back. It felt like falling down a tower. The light of his eyes diminished more and more, until he fell into total darkness. "Gerion!" He tried to yell, but discovered his words were silenced. He looked around him but didn't see anything. Night falls a bit early. "Gerion!" He tried again, and again he didn't succeed.

It felt good to be back. Gerion tried everything again. He moved his leg one step forward. Then he looked at the back of his hand. He saw Focho and stepped to him. "Don't worry, Focho. Your Joka will be just fine. She's on the ship with the others who can't fight. We can't die but by drowning, remember?" The words he used, felt so good. It had been weeks since he could say something. "Aye, that's what worries me. It's a port after all. Haven't we had this conversation already?" He nodded and went to Ziahor. "I want to fight. Say when and I'll be prepared." Ziahor turned and looked at his son. "Don't be so willing. What lays ahead of us, ain't going to be a game, ye know." He took Gerion's upper arm and came closer. "It's war after all. I don't want you to think this is fun. Understood? Hell will break out in a few moments." He tightened his grip and looked stern into Gerion's eyes. "Have you understood what I said." "Aye." The grip loosened and Gerion was freed. He heard a faint voice, but realized it was Sanuj. He calls my name. He tried to ignore him. But when he heard his name again, he couldn't resist it. You won't ever return. You were good to me. That's why I keep you alive. A Lannister always pays his debts. Remember that while I fight your battle. Thank you for giving me back my body. He went to the horse, which was appointed to him by his father and rode a few laps around the camp. When he was riding his 6th lap, he heard a distant horn. It's time.

Gerion held the hilt of Brightroar, the sword of his ancestors, giving from father to son. He galloped to his father and Ziahor said: "I'll take the left flank and attack them from the, obviously, left side. You'll do the center and try to bring the fight to the streets." Focho came galloping to them. "Focho, you'll take the right flank and try to get some good charges out of this battle. You wait until Sanuj blows his horn once. When you've attacked, I'll attack them from the left side. Understood?" They said both, while nodding: "Aye." Gerion went to his part of the army and made himself ready for battle. His part existed out of 40 fire zombies and a few thousand wights. He unsheathed Brightroar and held it before him. "We'll reclaim the land that is ours by right." He galloped his horse in front of the first row. "Today is the day that you'll prove what you are. Remember the treasure that this country is! Attack!" He turned himself towards the city and moved his horse forward. First slowly and how closer he came, the faster his horse ran. He reached the city as first and saw some children playing on the street. The children turned and, frightened by the approaching army, went inside. That's where you're safe. The only place. He galloped through the main street and reached the dock. He turned his horse and the horse reared. He held his sword high in the air, for all the gods to be seen. "Every man above 12 will be killed, the others don't have to fear anything."

The first Fire Zombies entered the city. Gerion heard some doors closing. He galloped through a street and took a torch. The torch was burning, and he used to burn the straw roofs of the houses. He saw some fire zombies forcing a door. Someone tried to close the door, but the fire zombie was stronger. One of them entered the house and Gerion heard a scream. The fire zombie came out of the house, dragging two bodies with him. A bloody river came out of the wounds of the men. One of them was barely 15 years old. He was long, had blond hair, and was clearly strong. They're like rats in a trap. When they dropped, three wights came towards them and Gerion looked away. Several screams were heard. Several bodies were piled upon each other. Mud was formed out of the blood and sand. He saw an old man being dragged by a wight, a wight was jealous about the prey of the other one and they fought about it. The wight let the man fall and took his sword, putting it in the chest of the other wight. He pulled it out of the wight and took the hair of the man. He held the sword close to the man's throat. Gerion couldn't watch any longer and galloped towards that man. He held Brightroar on the neck of the wight. He beheaded the wight. As expected, there came no blood. The head fell backward. The man, crying out of fear, stood up, trying to thank his saver. But the headless body took his sword and stabbed the man in his back. The man screamed out of pain. His legs failed him, and the man fell on his knees. The wight pulled his sword out of the man. The other wight, whose injuries were cured, continued the fight. Gerion, who'd seen this all, wanted to end this siege. He blew his horn twice, to give Focho the signal.

Focho heard the signal and made himself ready to charge. He commanded the wights to attack. He moved first slowly, the closer he came, the faster. His heart ticked faster than ever. The adrenaline thrived harder than ever before. He saw flames licking the roofs of the city. His horse galloped faster and faster. It felt like flying, the wights running behind him. The smoke blinded the sun, making it look like night. Everything was burning in the houses. The smell of burned flesh was hanging in the sky. He slowed down his horse, looking to where he could go. He saw a few men, who stood before him. "You'll give us that fucking horse, or you'll die." They came closer, trying to take the reins. Focho took his sword. He drew a few circles in the air. The men came closer and closer. They threw him off his horse. He landed against the wall. One of the men stabbed Focho with a sword. It looked like a copy of Brightroar. He screamed out in pain. Blood didn't come out of it, only smoke. The men looked puzzled at it. One of the men tried to mount the horse. The blond-haired man discovered that only one of them can be on that horse. He threw the man of the horse, right into the fire. The man set fire, scaring the horse. The blond man tried to calm the horse, not succeeding. It reared and smashed the man's head with its hooves. Blood came everywhere. The man fell backwards, right on top of Focho. Blood came everywhere, even in his mouth. He closed his eyes, hoping for it to end. He took some blood of the man to disguise himself. The others didn't recognize him and ignored him, still trying to calm down the horse. The horse, totally panicking, fell backwards, right against a wall next to Focho. A sickening sound was heard. The wall was destroyed. A loud explosion was heard. One of the roofs collapsed. The wall behind Focho fell forward, right on Focho and the man. Focho felt several bricks falling on his head.

Ziahor, who was standing on a hill, heard the collapse of a few houses. That's my cue. He commanded the wights to begin the attack. "Let's save them." He moved forward and, as Focho and Sanuj, fastened his pace the closer he came to the city. He saw some people running away from the city. He galloped towards them and ran them down. Then, he turned and went into the city. He let his horse stand outside of the town. Hoping to find his son, he searched the town. In the town, it was pure chaos. Everyone was running around; the fire was enclosing most people. Meanwhile, most of his army was fighting them. To his surprise, he saw a dead wight, laying on the ground. He came closer, looking at the injuries. He saw that the wight had a sword sticking out of his belly. It looked similar to Brightroar. "Oh, shit." He walked back, desperate to get away. He had to see his son. If this is true, we've lost our advantage. He saw his son, who was fighting a man and a woman. Ziahor took his sword and opened the back of the man. His son killed the woman. "Hi, dad! How're you doing?" "There's something I got to tell you." Sanuj ran away.

Gerion heard his father approaching and stopped. He looked at the ground. He saw what he wanted. "What do you need to tell me, father?" "We can be killed! I've seen a dead wight laying on the ground. Dead!" "How?" Gerion tried to sound desperate and scared. Tywin always said I couldn't act. "Because of the sword that you hold. There was a sword sticking out of the body. It was just like yours!" Gerion looked at him, trying to hide his happiness. That means those bastards can be defeated. He turned himself around and said: "Remember Gerion, Ziahor? Remember him?" Gerion came closer and closer. "Aye, I do. What do ye want to say about it?" "What was his favorite saying? You didn't say that to me. The favorite saying equals the man, they say." "A Lannister always pays his debts." Gerion made his move. He came closer and hit Ziahor. "That's true, red priest, that's true." "How? How do ye…?" Before Ziahor could finish his sentence, Gerion jumped on him. This made them both fall in the sea. Ziahor screamed loud at the feeling of the water. First it did nothing, but then he was burned alive. White smoke came out of the water, his skin fell off. Gerion only held the skeleton of it. When he loosened his grip, the skeleton sank in the water. Gerion felt a sudden pain. It felt like something died inside of him. He knew what was happening. Like I said to your father. A Lannister always pays his debts.

Joka saw the smoke coming from the city. She was happy that she was on a ship. She turned and thought: "I hope nothing bad happens to my Focho." She saw her friend, Vian. She was blond haired, wearing a beautiful dress. Probably for the feast after the battle. Her red eyes were beautiful combined with her blond hair. She mouthed something to a boy. She looked at him, holding his right hand. They went inside the cabin. She looked back, seeing her friend. She winked and closed the door. Next to her was her little brother, Vaito. She hugged him and tried to turn his sight off the town. "Don't worry, Viato. Everyone will be fine. When the battle is over, Focho will play hide and seek with you." She kissed his forehead and looked worried at the town where just a few houses collapsed.

Robin looked at the grave of Wout. She kneeled before it. Holding her hands against her eyes, she heard footsteps. "Robin, Jorden needs you. He wouldn't want you to grieve too much. He was a man after all." Luca kneeled next to her and Robin laid her head on his shoulder. "He wouldn't want you to stop living because you missed him." "You didn't know him. He meant more to me. He was the only one who didn't judge me by my father's name. He was just a prisoner to you, a human. He meant a bit more to me." She looked up, staring at the road leading out of the castle. "No, he wasn't. He was your lover, that's enough. Life is hard, you know. You can't be here forever." Luca stood up and gave Robin a hand. She accepted it and hugged him. "Thanks for being there for me. I know it mustn't be easy for you." "What do you mean?" "I've eyes in my sockets." She smiled and looked at him.

Jorden was walking through a room. He turned himself and saw Zia. He tried to walk to her, but every step closer to her, brought him farther. When he began to run, the ground shoke. The floor became steeper and steeper. Jorden tried to run, in the end he had to almost climb. When the floor was the wall, Jorden jumped. Trying to hold on, he failed. He fell. He thought he would fall on the wall, but he fell in darkness. The daylight became light points, until it wasn't visible anymore. Jorden fell further and further. When he closed his eyes, he suddenly woke. He stared at the ceiling. He stood up and looked around him. He saw a servant laying clothes at the end of the bed. "Where, where am I?" "Castle Black, my grace. You were a few days unconscious. After you crushed Wout's skull, you fell on the ground. The rest's history. I'll get Luca for you." She bowed and opened the door. "I hope you're fine. Robin was worried about you." Jorden was left puzzled.

Robin was looking at Luca when the servant came in. "My grace wants to see Robin." Robin rolled her eyes and followed the servant. Once Luca was out of earshot, Robin asked: "How's he doing?" "Fine." She turned to look Robin right in her eyes. She held the arm of Robin. "He didn't ask you. I want you to see him. It … would be better for him." She opened the door of the room and emphasized that Robin had to enter. "Hello, Jorden. Do I need to call you "my grace" now?" Jorden smiled and looked at her. "No, you don't. The bullshit about "my grace" can be put somewhere the sun doesn't shine." Robin smiled. She stepped to his bed, looking at his clothes. "When did you wake?" "A few moments ago. Something special happened?" Robin sat on the bed and said: "Nothing. About Wout, … I forgive you. He's dead now. We can only move on." Jorden nodded and took her right hand. "Well said. I have to try to move on too." Robin came closer to him, now looking right in his eyes. "There's no trying. You do it, or not." He looked puzzled at her. He knew that sentence from somewhere. Robin kissed his forehead and stood up. Jorden smiled for the first time since he woke. She opened the door and said: "All the news you want, Luca will inform you about that." Jorden could see that she was holding back a tear. Something broke inside of her. "Bring him to me, if it pleases you."

Luca was walking through the basement of the castle, when he saw a few bottles. He looked at it. He opened one and brought it to his lips. He hadn't drunk something that special. He felt light in his head. I'll bring this to Jorden. He'll love to drink this. He took a few bottles and went upstairs. Out of nowhere, there came a black crow. He landed on the table, inviting Luca to read the message. He took it from the leg and unfolded the paper.

"You're right. I'll help you. We'll make sure that he isn't harmful for us. From now on, use this crow. It sends the message to the right man. Burn this after reading." Luca folded the paper and went to his room. He lit the fire of his fireplace and walked in his room. When the fire was warm enough, he threw the paper in it. Then, he waited until there were only ashes. He went to Jorden and knocked on the door. He saw Robin walking through the hall. "Come in." Luca opened the door and immediately closed it. "I've found something in the basement. It's some weird liquid that we haven't drunk yet. It makes you feel light in the head, if you get what I say." Luca balanced on his feet and tried to walk on one line. He failed and fell with his head on the bed. "Enough acrobatics for today, Luca? Give me that damn bottle, please." Jorden drank out of it and commanded Luca to go.

Ron tried to hold the axe from cutting in his pieces. He returned the blow and the attacker fell backward. Ron swung the axe above him and with one strike beheaded the man. Blood came sprawling out of the neck, and the head fell down. Ron turned, killing a few people. He saw Zack sitting on his horse, too scared to dismount. Ron walked towards him, trying not to fall. When Zack came closer to him, Ron said: "You were right. I will never fight in a battle again. But please," Tears formed on Ron's face, "say that I'm safe. Please, please, ..." Zack held his hand towards Ron and said: "It's normal, don't worry. You aren't safe here, anywhere you are at the moment." Ron looked scared and didn't know what to say. "But that will change. Try to survive this battle, and you'll be safe." Ron didn't want to fight on, he wanted to stop. Ron kneeled; he couldn't move. His sword fell out of his hand, and tears fell on the ground. "I don't want to fight, please. Please!" Zack looked sad at him and took his sword. "I'm sorry. I'll protect you. You don't have to fight anymore." He slashed a man down and reached out to Ron. He took Zack's hand. When the last crows were running, Zack let Ron sit in the castle. He laid his finger on the chin of Ron. Ron was looking sad; he was mentally broke. "Don't forget to enjoy your time on earth. Life's short, ye know."