Sister's Keeper
Edited by xXFallenSakuraXx52
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones
Chapter 73: The Frozen Lake
Beyond the Wall
It was a moderate blizzard. Moderate to those who live below the Wall. As Tormund and his Free Folk friends says it's not too light and it's not too hard. If it were severe, the snow would be drowning you as you stand and the ice cutting your face. However, it was almost impossible to see. You could barely see anything that is ten feet around you. The party stood together in the direction they believe was north. Praying that the blizzard shall pass by or come across a cave. Unfortunately, they were on a flat plain.
Tormund stopped Jon noticing something in the far distance breaking the horizon of white. It was a grey mass. It took the men a moment to realize what the mass was a bear. One of the wildlings walked ahead to see how far it was.
"Look!" Tormund said.
"A bear," Sandor declared.
"Big fucker," Tormund noted.
The bear stopped and turned its head toward them. Normally in its silhouette, there should be nothing to see out of the ordinary. However, something was off about this one. Jorah and Tormund had their experience with bears. Black bears, brown bears, and white polar bears. No matter their size and color of their furs, there is one feature that doesn't change for any species of bears and that is their eyes. There were only two types of color eyes a bear would have, brown or black. Red for the exotically rare albino…but otherwise, never in their lives have they seen a bear with icy blue eyes.
"Do bears have blue eyes?" Gendry asked Jorah.
The bear grunted charging its way over to them. The wildling who was ahead noticed this, turning around and ran for his life to join the others. The party drew their weapons, ready to attack, except the blizzard became denser, causing the bear to vanish from sight they were only able to see their comrade. It was when the wildling was twenty feet away; the dead bear appeared out of nowhere tackling the Wilding down and biting his head off. The others rushed in to save him, but they were already too late. The only thing they could do is kill the bear before it attacks them. By the time they got there, there was nothing but a spear and a puddle of blood.
Jon got there first panted, confused by all this. Cautious, the men gather around forming a circle. Their senses were over powered, as they could only see snow and white, the wind screaming in their ears, and the smell of furs from their winter attire. They were blind. Suddenly the dead bear appeared, roaring as it crushed down on another Wildling landing center of the circle. It bit into the wildlings back, tossing him about before lifting his rotten muzzle roaring at everyone. A Brother rushed in trying to cut it with his ax, only to smacked away.
Lord Beric and Thoros lit their swords charging forward while Sandor checked on their injured comrade. The Lord of Light worshipers rushed in as the dead bear stood on its hind legs roaring at them. Distracted by the flames, a Wilding came forward about to stab it, except the bear caught him biting his arm, banding him against the hard earth before tossing him away. The wildling threw thirty feet before landing on his neck, dying instantly. Lord Beric stabbed the bear, igniting the beast aflame. The bear screamed in pain, smacking Beric aside before charging at Sandor.
Sandor was caught in the fire spell, seeing the beast on fire bringing back horrible memories of his brother. He was petrified, unable to move, when Thoros rushed in, shoving Sandor away and try to stab the beast in the head. The creature was massive to the Myrman. It used its weight to smash Thoros to the ground, who managed to get his sword between its mouth and using all his strength to get the sharp teeth away. Tormund came in, smashing his ax on the bear's shoulder, yet the bear smacked him away going back towards Thoros. Sandor was on the ground still petrified by the fire, unable to move. The bear bit the blade in two, before biting into Thoros's shoulder thrashing him about.
Jorah, remembering he had his Dragonglass dagger, ran forward and stabbed the beast in the back. It only took one stab, as the bear streak in agony before dropping dead. Gendry and Thoros rushed in, dragging Thoros away so he wouldn't burn with the bear. At a safe distance, Beric knelt to see his friend's condition. Finding bite marks from his chest and shoulders. Jorah came over seeing Thoros was in no condition to continue.
"We have to get him back to Eastwatch," Jorah advised.
Thoros shook his head, "Flask."
Gendry searched for Thoros's flash and gave it to the Priest. Thoros took a couple of gulps before nodding to Beric to do it. Beric nodded, bringing the flaming sword to Thoros's chest and cauterized the wound. The sound of skin sizzling could be heard along with the Priest groaning in pain. Once the wounds were sealed, Beric pulled the flaming sword away and corrected his friend's clothes.
"You all right?" Beric asked.
"I just got bit by a dead bear," Thoros muttered.
"Aye, you did," Beric chuckled in agreement.
Thoros almost laughed, "Funny old life."
Thoros raised a hand which Beric took helping him up, "Right, then."
Jon sighed as he came over to Tormund who was examining for life in his friend. Sadly, the Wilding was dead, as a piece of his spine stuck out. They looked up seeing the bear tracks. As the storm keeps passing, the trail will vanish in minutes. Only the directions where the bear was coming from was their only lead. So, after burning the dead, they headed in that direction.
.o0o.
It wasn't long when they reached the other side of the field, reaching the base of the arrowhead mountain. They walk in a straight line, climbing what almost resembles an abandoned trail — hoping to get more ground before nightfall. Thoros tagged along the back, still exhausted from being wounded while keeping his flask close in hand. Taking small sips now and then to keep warm, since the blood that coated his chest was now cold. Jorah walked beside his old comrade, trying to cheer him up with tales from old times.
"Something I've always wanted to know," Jorah started.
"All right," Thoros replied.
"How drunk were you when you charged through the breach of Pyke?" Jorah asked.
"If I'm being honest, I don't remember charging through the breach," Thoros answered. "Some of the lads told me about it the next morning." He stopped for a moment to put his flask away but struggled. "Sounded like a good scrap."
Jorah, being considerate, helped secured the flask on the belt. "Aye. It was a proper scrap. The Ironborn thought you were some kind of god, the way you were waving that flaming sword. I thought you were the bravest man I ever saw."
Thoros gave a slight scoff, "Just the drunkest."
Then nudged Jorah as they began to walk. "Though, did my vision come true?"
"And what vision is that?" Jorah asked, assuming he meant reading the flames.
"That you will have a girl made of fire?" Thoros asked. "Or was it fuck a girl of fire? I can't remember."
Jorah paused, trying to recall what he meant. Then he remembers a few nights before the breach of Pyke on a ship sailing way. Thoros was drinking, wailing about the Lord of Light, when he stopped suddenly, gazing at a torch he was holding. They were all drunk at different levels, but Thoros sobered up suddenly in the direction of Jorah saying about a quest to find a lady of fire. Jorah never truly thought about it, thinking the drunkard was talking about a woman whose hair was kissed by fire. Now that he thinks about it, Alysanne and Daenerys were immune by fire and have their own.
Jorah paused, looking at Thoros as the Red Priest continued. What was with the R'hllor faith wanting from him and Alysanne? First the Yiitish priestess in Volantis and now Thoros? He tried to remember what the woman said. "The Seed of Ice for the Womb of Fire. A dynasty like no other." Whatever does that mean? He will have to ask Thoros the next time they make camp.
Ahead of the line, Tormund leads with Jon right behind him. Tormund paused, stopping the line for he thought he heard something. Everyone went silent as they listen. They recognized the sound to be metal clanking. Tormund and Jon had the others wait as they went ahead to investigate. On top of a cliff, they looked down to seeing wights making their way dragging their weapons along the rocky terrain. Up ahead was a White Walker leading the group. They pulled back looking at each other.
"Where's the rest of them?" Jon whispered.
Tormund shrugged, "If we wait long enough, we'll find out."
Jon nodded as they went back to join the others. They came up with a plan, as Tormund remembers there's a lake at the end of the ravine. They can trap the wights there and kill off the rest leaving two alive. There was one slight problem. There was a White Walker in the group. The only thing that can kill a White Walker was Dragonglass and Valyrian Steel. They were short on the dragonglass since Gendry made it under short notice; also the only Valyrian Steel they had was Longclaw. So, they have to kill the leader as quickly as possible and immobilize the wights until they can finish them off. So, coming up with a plan, they rush to the end of the ravine to set up the trap.
.o0o.
The White Walker let his group to the end of the ravine. It was a simple scouting mission since he noticed a disturbance in the Dead Bear. As he reached the edge, he noticed a small campfire that was still ablaze. Seeing the fire was fresh, he assumed the humans can't be far and were scavenging the area for food. He looked up to see if the humans were fishing since there was a running streak.
Suddenly the humans appeared out of nowhere, some with flaming swords charging towards them. Jon appeared from the opposite side, right behind the white walker going for the kill. The White Walker turned around, blocking the attack as the ice sword collided with the Valyrian steel. Meanwhile, the men continue to fight the wights. One Wight disarmed Ser Jorah, putting him in a chokehold. Everyone was too occupied to help him. Jon took a couple of strikes, as Longclaw hacked away from the ice blade, and one swing through the White Walker was shattering him to pieces.
Immediately the wights stopped falling into pieces or turning to dust, except for three that were confused. The White Walker in the group did not create these three wights. The three were screeching and snarling at them. Carefully the men corralled the wights trying to take them down to tie them up. One lunged forward, out of instincts, a Brother from the Brotherhood cut it in half. Tormund having an idea, dropped his ax. The two wights seeing him defenseless charged in, only to be punched in the face and knocked down. Sandor rushed in pinning the wights while the others came in tying it up. The Wight thrashed, until giving a deafening screech for a long period of time, the second one did as well. Sandor quickly broke the first jaw while his other hand yanks the other's tongue out.
Jon having an experience with animals from hunting with his father and Farlen the kennel master who explains animals when lost or scared, will call out to their group for help. There was a distant sound of rumbling that caught Jon's attention as he looked across the stream. The sounds of footfalls and thundering. The men heard this too, as they looked up through an opening of the ravine, spotting an avalanche. However, it was not an avalanche, as Jon remember Hardhome, it was a stampede. He went over to Gendry and another wildling.
"Run back to Eastwatch," Jon ordered. "Get a raven to Alysanne and tell her what's happened."
"I'm not leaving you," Gendry said.
"You two have a better chance," Jon said. "Go now!"
The wildling nodded, grabbing Gendry by the arm to lead. Tormund stopped them will quick grabbing hold of Gendry's Warhammer.
"You're faster without the hammer. Give it," Tormund advised. "Give it."
Gendry was sentimental of the weapons he forges for himself. But realizing the hammer will weigh him down, he conceded giving it to Tormund. Tormund nodded in appreciated before the wildling comrade grabbed Gendry leading the way back to Eastwatch. They went their separate ways as they ran for their lives while dragging the two wights. They were lost in their run; they almost ran into the lake if Jorah hadn't yelled for them to stop. The ice was cracking beneath their feet but hasn't collapsed under them yet. They stayed still, trying to figure out how to get out. Regrettably, they turned around seeing a horde of wights making their way over through the ravine.
"Go!" Jon yelled.
All were taking the risk; they ran as fast as they could across the lake. The sound of ice cracking under their feet along with the snarling horde. The horde circled around the lake, trapping them, while another group tried to catch up. They reached the island in the middle drawing their weapons. The horde that followed from behind stepped on a weak spot on the ice and fell into the frozen lake. Many more fell in, that they immediately stopped circling their pray about a hundred or so feet in radius. The men panted, realizing they were safe for now, but they were now trapped.
.o0o.
Gendry and the Wilding had dropped their weapons except for daggers and ran for their lives heading south. The Wilding being a native of these parts, knew where they were going, how to get South. They ran on, not stopping even as they left the arrowhead mountains behind them. Through the field and to the next range of mountains. Only stopping for a moment to catch their breath, before running again. Their legs hurt, lungs burning, while stomachs beg for food. The adrenaline numbed the pain, but for how long. Gendry was suffering inside, while his wildling companion, who held experience of this environment tried to encourage him onward.
They were a week away from the Wall. Gendry believes they can make it in time. However, the Wilding knowing the Army the Dead, knew there was no hope for their friends. The best they could do is get back to the Wall and warn the others.
The next day, they reached the other side of the mountain, when the Wilding lost his footing on a slick of ice and fell. Gendry tried to grab him, but he was too late as the Wilding fell off the mountain plummeting towards his death. The Bastard didn't know what to do, yet he regretted the decision as he continues to run. He runs faster and harder, yet his legs started to feel like lead. Just as he reached the bottom, his legs gave away, falling into the snow. Gendry tried to get up, but his legs wouldn't move. The snow came, and sight began to fade in the storm. He cursed, desperately trying to get up.
Then there was a sound of footsteps, more like hooves. Gendry musters the strength to look around, thinking it was a Wight on a dead horse. Instead, he saw a man. For a second Gendry thought it could be a ranger, as the man was wearing black. It was Benjen Stark, though Gendry did not know that, as the man came over.
The young man tried to speak, but he couldn't. Benjen having sensed what was going on, didn't need an explanation, as he helped Gendry up on his horse and aided the young man back to Eastwatch.
.o0o.
Meanwhile, the evening was fast approaching as the nights grew colder and the snow continued falling. Still, the wights remained still surrounding the lake, standing at attention watching them with icy blue eyes. The men stood or sat, keeping guard as the darkness came, and all they saw were blue eyes illuminating in the darkness. Sometime in the night, they huddle, backs together while keeping guard.
When dawn came, the wights had pulled back to the edge of the lake. The two wights they have captured were snarling, still tied together and heads covered in sacks. Sandor annoyed by their growls and snarls stood up walking over, before kicking one causing it to screech. Instantly, all the wights in the horde snarled at them.
Everyone but Thoros got up grabbing their weapons. Beric noticed this, as he knelt towards his friend checking on his condition, "Thoros? Thoros?"
Sadly, Thoros had passed away during the night. He had succumbed to his injuries and the cold. Beric realizing that, adjusted the cloak to cover his dear friend's face. Sandor knelt down beside Beric, staring at Thoros.
"They say it's one of the better ways to go," Sandor murmured.
To die in one's sleep.
Sandor then collected Thoros's weapons and flask before standing up.
"Lord of Light, show us the way," Beric prayed, resting Thoros hand over his heart. "Come to us in our darkness and lead Your servant into the light."
Sandor was about to take a swig, when Jon stopped him, trying to be mindful towards the dead. Sandor gave the King in the North a glare.
"We have to burn his body," Jon said.
Ser Jorah nodded, sad to lose a good comrade.
Jon took the flask and poured the alcohol over Thoros's body to use as an accelerant.
"We'll all be close behind him unless the Lord of Light is King enough to send us a bit of fire," Tormund sarcastically said.
Lord Beric drew his sword casting the spell to set his sword on fire and rest it on Thoros. It didn't take long for the body to catch flame and started to burn. Making sure the Red Priest doesn't become a member of the Army of the Dead, preventing the lands curse on him.
"Lord of Light, come to us in our darkness, for the night is dark and full of terrors." Lord Beric prayed, then extinguished his sword walking away.
Jorah stood there watching the body burn before glancing at Beric. Sorry for the man who lost his friend. Currently, they have a fire, but how long? Jon walked away, and Jorah followed after him.
"We'll all freeze soon. And so, will the water," Jorah told him then continued. "When you killed the white walker, almost all the dead that followed it fell. Why?"
Jon paused then looked ahead, "Maybe he was the one who turned them."
Jorah nodded, "We can go for the Walkers. Maybe we'll stand a chance."
"No," Jon disagreed, and glance at the two wights. "We need to get those things back with us."
Jorah shuddered, having a feeling that is not possible now.
"There's a raven flying for Dragonstone now," Jon reminded. "Alysanne is our only chance."
"No. There's another," Lord Beric said, joining them, pointing up ahead. "Kill him."
Upon the ridge was the Night King along with five of his generals.
"He turned them all," Beric said.
"You don't understand," Jon implored.
"The Lord brought you back," Beric said. "He brought me back. No one else. Just us."
He brought Alysanne back, Jorah thought.
"Did he do it to watch us freeze to death?" Beric asked Jon.
Sandor joined them, "Careful, Beric. You lost your Priest. This is your last life."
"I've been waiting for the end for a long time," Beric assured. "Maybe the Lord brought me here to find it."
"Every lord I've ever met's been a cunt," Sandor countered. "Don't see why the Lord of Light should be any different."
Jon continues staring at the Night King praying that Gendry and the Wildling made it back to Eastwatch soon enough. A week…can they hold up for at least a week?
.o0o.
Benjen and Gendry soon came into sight of the Wall near the Eastwatch territory. Benjen stopped at the forest line allowing Gendry to get off. The last two days, the rider never stopped. Gendry tried to ask a few questions, but Benjen hardly answered.
"Here you go," Benjen said. "Hurry and send that raven."
"Where will you go?" Gendry asked.
"I need to help the others," Benjen said. "Help my nephew."
Gendry was going to say something when the sound of a roar caught their attention. Looking up ahead, his eyes widen, seeing three dragons flying over the Wall. Black, gold, and green, contrasting to the white environment. They continue flying passed them, as Gendry tried to call their attention but couldn't. The young man stood there wondering how Queen Alysanne and Princess Daenerys knew to be here if he didn't send a raven? Did Ser Davos send a raven after a long absence? Possibly. Gendry was going to turn to the ranger only to see the man galloping off.
Gendry sighed as he started to run back to Eastwatch.
.o0o.
Another day goes by in the cold. Thoros was nothing but ash and bone now. There was no wood on the island to start another fire. The only wood they had were the handles to most of the weapons, which they needed to defend themselves. They all waited. Sitting or standing as they stare out with the same scenery of wights.
Sandor stood on the edge as he picked up a rock and threw it across the lake. The rock struck a Wight, breaking his jaw off. The impact did nothing of a reaction, as the Wight merely stood there looking at him.
"Dumb cunt," Sandor muttered.
Jorah saw this and frowned. He thinks it's best not to instigate the wights. Let alone; the lake could be frozen by now. If there was a slip-up, the wights could begin the next attack. Ser Jorah started making his way towards the Hound, but the Hound picked up a larger rock and threw it again. The rock sailed across the air, striking the frozen lake before sliding towards the Wight that was injured earlier. This caught everyone's attention. The broken jaw Wight looked down and then back up at Sandor.
"Oh, fuck," Sandor whispered.
The broken jaw Wight started making his way across the frozen lake, dragging his sword along the ice. He walked twenty feet, securing that the ice was frozen enough before others began to join their dead friends' weapons at the ready. Jon stood up, unsheathing Longclaw. Jorah took out his second dragonglass dagger while holding the first as well. Sandor with Gendry's War hammer, Beric was igniting his sword, and so forth with the others.
"Fuck it," Sandor said, as he strikes first smashing the jawless Wight down crushing his head.
A Wight came forward which Jon cut in half. More kept coming as the men did their best to immobilize and destroy the wights. They fought hard, trying to keep the wights away. Beric, Jon, and Jorah were having it easy since their weapons can kill the wights officially. But the others struggle a bit. On occasion, Sandor smashing the ice creating craters that have the wights sinking to the ground. But as time went on, the wights were gathering closer limiting the space. One Wight got a hold of Jon, which Jorah rushed in stabbing it. Jon nodded in gratitude, reclaiming Longclaw.
Their Brotherhood comrade was soon caught off guard being pushed, pinned to the ground being stabbed to death. Jon saw this, ordering the men to fall back to the island trying to get to higher ground on the boulder. Tormund was about to do so when a Wight grabbed him, followed by more, as they struck him in the head with a hammer. Outnumbered, he was tackled to the ground as he shouted for help. Sandor grabbed Jorah's dagger and rushed in stabbing one of the wights and pulled Tormund up.
Meanwhile, Jon grabbed the two wights that were tied together dragging them up while the others continue to fight. As they reached the top of the island, one of the volunteer men rushed to help Jon. They continue to fight when the volunteer was grabbed by a Wight being pushed off the boulder. Jon tried to grab him but was too late, as the man fell into the horde being torn to pieces. Jon's eyes widen seeing this, panting, comprehending that they were not going to make it out of here alive. All because the Hound decided to throw a rock.
All who remain was Jon, Tormund, Ser Jorah, Sandor, and Lord Beric. Everyone else was dead. A simple expedition to get two wights was an utter failure. Lost in thought, a Wight passed through. It's snarling caught Jon's attention, yet was too slow as a knife stabbed him in the shoulder straight through the furs and leathers, along with another stab in his leg. He managed to cut the Wight with Longclaw and groaned.
This was it.
They were going to die.
Until Jon felt a familiar presence, the same presence he felt back in Dragonstone when he encountered Rhaegal on the cliffs. Something told him to duck, that he did so, as Rhaegal appeared over him breathing fire upon the wights. All the men duck, as Rhaegal passed overhead. They looked up seeing Drogon and Viserion flying around breathing fire around the wights. They circle around melting the ice around the island isolating the wights from the men.
Up in the sky, Alysanne and Daenerys were surprised to see the greater threat officially. They were the same creatures Alysanne saw in the House of the Undying and recurring nightmares. Meanwhile, Daenerys, realizing the greater threat, should have listened to her sister from the beginning. Daenerys had Drogon land curling around the boulder circling around the men while Alysanne took Viserion and Rhaegal to keep burning the wights.
Jon rushed in as Daenerys offered him a hand to get up. However, a Wight screeching caught his attention. He attacked, blocking the beast while the men quickly climbed up along with the two captured wights.
As this was happening, the Night King drew a spear out of his saddle and started making his way towards the ledge. He observed the dragons, following their fly pattern making a calculating decision as he aimed.
"Jon!" Ser Jorah called out to him to get on, as everyone was already on.
Alysanne noticed the Night King aiming his spear. She thought he was going to kill Drogon; she had Viserion rush in. The Night King threw the spear as Alysanne was about to shout Dracarys, yet stopped upon realizing the angle of the projectile was coming her way. Eyes widening, she forced Viserion to the side. Everything happens too fast, but not fast enough as the spear struck Viserion by the tail. Alysanne cried out from the pain in her spine, feeling like she was being stabbed because she was connected through her magic with Viserion and took away his pain. The sudden shock caused Viserion to lose his bearing as he fell to the ground.
All eyes widen thinking they were going to fall into their death. Jon thinking, he could come in to save her, ran out toward Viserion. Daenerys and Jorah's eyes widen in fear seeing Viserion crash into the side of the mountain. Jorah was about to get off except Tormund held him down.
One of the White Walkers went to grab another spear. Tormund spotted this and told Daenerys they needed to go. Jon saw this as well, as he began to run where Viserion was. He shouted at the others to go, to flee now, Daenerys nodded; except she couldn't abandon her sister. But knowing Alysanne, she had no choice and told Drogon to fly, ignoring the protest from Jorah.
Meanwhile, Alysanne groaned, catching her bearings before seeing Drogon taking off. She reconnected with Viserion, before looking up seeing the second spear flying through the air, almost striking Drogon. Not wasting another second, Viserion took off just as she spotted Jon still on the ice. Cursing, she had Viserion dive in grabbing Jon with his right talon and went straight into the sky.
Daenerys looked over her shoulder, sighing in relief to see Viserion back in the sky. Therefore, Alysanne was safe for now. But she couldn't see Jon. Unable to tell if Alysanne got him or did he die on the lake. Jorah noticed this as well and sighed in relief.
All three dragons made it out.
Now they need to get back to Eastwatch.
So…what do ya think?
You've been waiting for this.
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