This is the penultimate chapter before the Long Night, which as of uploading this isn't quite finished but I didn't want to wait another week. Hopefully I'll upload next week but as you can imagine the attack of the White Walkers is a chapter I need to get spot on, so if I miss a week it's because I'm tweaking and improving.

We've still got this chapter to get through first though, so without further ado here you go!

I own nothing other than any OC's. All recognisable characters and locations are the property of HBO or George R R Martin.

Loren was barely old enough to remember the last winter. He mainly remembered his Father being away fighting the Ironborn and playing with his young cousins and relatives in the Godswood of Casterly Rock, as the light snowfall barely carpeted the ground. His worst memory of the season had of course been his Mother's funeral, but other than that he didn't remember the winter as being too awful. This time around however as he pushed his horse further into the heavy snow drifts, he almost yearned for the blissful snowfall that his childhood had given him as at least the sun had risen then.

They had been camped at Oldstones the last time Loren had seen the sunlight and almost a week had passed since. The Lord of Casterly Rock could see the faint torchlight of The Twins flickering in the distance beyond the snow barraging him and his men and each footstep brought him closer to what was going to be an extremely unwelcome fight.

As he neared however he noticed the men further up the lines beginning to speak uneasily with one another. Loren held his fur gloved arm up to try and block the snow from his eyes, and he quickly realised that he had mistaken the torchlight in the distance. It was pure fire.

Ignoring his horse's protests Loren spurred the destrier on to ride past his foot soldiers towards the front of the lines where Lambert was leading. As he got closer to the castle the picture became even more clear as the cold snow landing on Loren's face became ash. Both of the Frey towers, or at least the shells that remained of them, were still in flames. Loren finally reached the front of the march as they neared the eastern tower, and after the order to make camp was called he joined Lambert on foot as they walked closer.

"These towers used to look so powerful." Lambert commented dryly, rubbing his covered hands together to bask in the sudden heat. "Now look at them."

Loren had noticed something by the first gate and ignored his friend, continuing his movements towards the castle. There, strung up to a cross, was the slightly charred yet clearly recognisable corpse of Ryman Frey and a dagger plunged deep into the Frey's heart was holding up some parchment. Removing the dagger from the body, Loren unfolded the letter and began to read.

"Daenerys Targaryen offered the chance to join us, Ryman Frey refused." Loren surmised to Lambert. "Winterfell has fallen, and the survivors are making their way to Moat Cailin to escape South, the fighters are making their stand there."

Lambert looked horrified. "The stories about Winterfell… how could it fall?"

Loren looked around at the area around him and cursed his Father yet again. "The North didn't have enough men to defend it." He sighed. "Have half the men rest and the other half putting this fire out. We need to cross this bridge yesterday."

The urgency wasn't lost on Lambert. "At once, My Lord." He bowed formally and returned to the men to start shouting orders, leaving Loren alone to do nothing but stare at the aftermath of standing against the Targaryen's dragons.

It was almost another week of travelling up the Causeway when Loren's men were met by anybody else. It was a small procession, but Loren knew his sigils and noticed the Stark and Manderly banners right away. As the groups met, Loren once again dismounted his horse and walked alone towards the newcomers.

"Golden armour peeking out from ridiculously expensive looking furs. Lord Lannister, I presume." An elderly, fat man stated, bluntly stood in the middle of the road. Loren looked at the leaders and noticed immediately Arya Stark mounted on the same horse as a toddler, and he felt guilt rising up inside. He also noticed a young man with curly auburn hair, the new Lord Stark.

"Lord Manderly." Loren nodded at the man who had spoken. "I pray we are not too late."

Manderly growled. "The Gods are cruel that you and your countrymen are needed at all, stepping into Northern lands after all that you have done."

"My Father and Grandfather committed heinous crimes to you and yours, My Lord, and they have paid for them." Loren stated. "But we are not here for wars past, we are here to protect the living."

Manderly growled angrily, but he nodded. "Aye, but may the Night King take all of you with him before he is stopped." He then spat on the floor before Loren. "The North Remembers, Lord Lannister."

"And a Lannister will always pay his debts." Loren spoke firmly. "I swear to you, the time of Tyland and Tywin Lannister is at an end. House Lannister is far different to what it was."

"I'll believe that when Cersei is dead." Arya Stark spoke up from her mount. "And I don't forget who handed me over to the Frey's gagged and chained, Lord Loren."

Loren's guilt rose again. "Nor should you, My Lady, but whether you believe me or not, I am truly sorry for what happened in Riverrun. When I found out what you had been put through had it not been for the oncoming Winter I would have razed it to the ground with everyone inside it, kinslaying be damned."

Wyman snorted. "A fitting statement to part with a Lannister on." He muttered venomously. "March on!" He called, before shaking his head at Loren. "I pray we never meet again." He said coldly, before the fat Lord returned to his wagon. Loren just sighed as he waved his men to let the group of women, children and non-fighters past, hoping that they arrived wherever they planned to run to. As he watched the Northerners turn to dots in the torch illuminated horizon he just clenched his teeth and pounded his leg in anger at the sins of his family before he took a deep breath and moved back to his horse, knowing that despite everybody's anger at his countrymen, they would still do their part for the Seven Kingdom's.

Finally, 10 days after having left the Twins, Loren and the Westerlanders neared Moat Cailin to find a flurry of activity. Men were hauling logs over towards a lopsided wooden keep that had been set up just to the South of the famous Northern fortress, whilst going the other way were carts filled with frozen mud and soil. Loren led his men closer to the keep only to be halted by a young girl dressed in full armour.

"Halt!" She said firmly. Loren dismounted his horse and walked closer to her. "Lannister." She greeted bitterly.

"Forgive me, we have not met." Loren said calmly, already bored of being mistreated by Northmen. "Lady…"

"Mormont." She explained to him suspiciously. "You're late."

Loren clenched his teeth in frustration before answering. "The snows delayed us."

Lyanna Mormont rolled her eyes, muttering. "Southerners." She then looked behind Loren at the long line of soldiers. "You will be wanted inside by Her Grace, the rest of your men will camp in the Drunkards Tower." She pointed to the leaning structure in the distance. "Be careful with your torches though, you don't want to set the place off early." Loren looked at her, confused and slightly concerned by her grin. "You'll find out." The young she-bear teased.

With that she walked away to direct some other men carrying jars carefully, leaving Loren to turn to both Lambert and Loren's brother by law, Daven Lannister, who had joined him at the front of the march. "Go and set up our camp." Loren commanded. "Then find out how we can help. We are the outcasts here, we need to show that we are here to help."

"As you say, My Lord." Daven muttered gruffly. "With me!" He roared to his men, and Loren stepped to one side watching as his horse and his army were taken towards the original part of Moat Cailin. The Lannister Lord meanwhile looked over to the keep and made his way there.

He was ushered inside by two silent Unsullied warriors, and to his surprise the entire room was nothing more than a war council chamber. Tyrion Lannister was there, looking worriedly up at Daenerys as he received a sealed scroll.

"You only open that if I fall." Daenerys said hurriedly, her eyes serious. Loren felt like he had intruded, and so he cleared his throat loudly.

"Your Grace, Lord Hand." He greeted them both, and Daenerys looked over at Loren alarmed, pushing the scroll into Tyrion's hands and brushing down her furs.

"Lord Lannister." Daenerys smiled forcedly. "You made it."

Loren nodded, joining them at the table. "The snows slowed us, but your gift at the Twins helped."

Daenerys' smile fell. "I gave them a choice to join me or not." She said firmly. "They chose not."

"They shan't be missed." Tyrion said jovially as he made his way over to Loren. "Nephew, we didn't get a chance to speak before, it is good to see you again."

The reminder of Harrenhal wasn't welcomed by Loren, and he just nodded his greeting and looked at the map. "What are the plans? You look like you've been busy."

Daenerys nodded. "Jon is flying around looking for any stragglers in the North, but most of the Northmen have either evacuated further South or are holed up at White Harbour waiting for ships. Lady Wynafred is staying in the city with a large force."

"But the Night King is coming here." Tyrion said unhappily. "He can sense Brandon Stark somehow, I don't know how it works." He didn't sound happy at the lack of knowledge. "And Brandon Stark is here, so we have set out traps before making our stand here in the Causeway."

"Yara Greyjoy has gifted us something she once found on her travels. A substance similar to Wildfire, but different." Daenerys explained. "We have filled the towers with it and once the Army of the Dead grow close, the dragons will ignite them."

"With any luck that will be that, but when has luck ever been on our side." Tyrion muttered quietly. Loren wanted to scoff at that comment, but he didn't get a chance to as the dwarf continued with the plans. "After that, we have deep trenches filled with Dragonglass and kindling. Your men will need to go and get some Dragonglass weaponry as well, normal steel won't do."

Loren nodded. "We will do whatever is required of us." He explained.

"I appreciate that." Daenerys said kindly. "I realise that this is not what you want, you swore fealty to me only because you hate Cersei, but from what Tyrion tells me have the best trained force and numbers that most of my Lords would only dream of."

"I will not betray you, if that is what you are implying." Loren explained with a distasteful expression. "I keep my oaths."

Daenerys smiled again. "As I have been told. Lord Tyrion speaks highly of you, Loren Lannister. He doesn't do so for many of your family."

"That's because most of our family are cunts." Tyrion shrugged.

"Even the so-called good ones have insulted the gods, Uncle." Loren said bitterly. "Kinslaying is an affront…"

"I'm already a demon dwarf." Tyrion rolled his eyes. "I'm already cursed."

Loren took a deep breath, too tired to get into another argument. "If you'll excuse me, it has been a long day."

"Of course. Your camp is to the west of the road, just past the Reachmen." Dany pointed the spot out on the map to a confused Loren.

"We were told we were housed in a tower…"

"Gods no!" Tyrion exclaimed. "This explosive from Essos the Greyjoy's found us is highly volatile!"

Loren clenched his teeth again, realising that the little girl had been tricking them. "Fucking Northerners." He whispered, before he bowed his head again. "By your leave."

"Go, I will send somebody to fetch you when we reconvene with the commanders." Daenerys nodded, and Loren quickly got out of there.

The snow had started again in earnest and Loren noticed his men were actually making their way westwards, and he glared over at a laughing Lyanna Mormont before he followed them, eager to finally get some decent sleep.

Time is a strange concept when the sun doesn't appear. As Loren awoke and made sure his armour was covered in furs and other warm clothing he felt like he hadn't been asleep for very long at all judging by the night sky still looming depressingly over their heads, but as he strapped Red Rain to his hip and walked out of his tent he was surprised to see the defences looking far stronger than he remembered, and his force of Westermen had fully integrated into the Dornish and Reach parties in preparing for the coming fight.

"Amazing." His Uncle Lyle commented from a barrel beside the tent, his sword on his lap. "If you'd have told me months ago that we would be making friends with the Dornish I'd have called you a bad excuse of a mummer."

"Times change, Uncle." Loren commented. "And alliances shift to suit the needs of those still standing."

Lyle took a deep breath. "Promise me, Loren. Cersei has to pay for what she did." His voice was low and dangerous.

"You have my word." Loren nodded. "Once we are done here, Cersei will fall."

Lyle nodded gruffly, a determined look in his brown eyes. "The Dragon woman wanted to see you when you awoke."

Groaning, Loren nodded. "Thank you." He said, and the Lord of Casterly Rock once again walked into the command room. Inside he noticed Daenerys and Tyrion once again, but this time they were joined by the bastard of Winterfell.

"I spotted them here." Jon Snow was pointing at the map. "He has these… ice spears. I barely managed to keep Rhaegal away."

"How long do we have?" Tyrion asked.

Jon looked at Daenerys, worriedly. "Two days."

Loren gulped, and then he made his presence known. "Then we had best organise the lines." He stated calmly.

"Lord Lannister, you are awake." Daenerys commented.

Loren didn't bother with the small talk as he walked over to the map as well. He very quickly took in the trench locations in comparison to both their camp and Moat Cailin. "Have the fastest riders here." He pointed to the first trench filled with kindling and oil. "Don't rely on fire arrows in this cold, have men with torches light the fire at the first sign of the army and then retreat to here." He pointed between the second trench and their fortifications. "This is where we make our stand. After three traps they shouldn't have the numbers to overrun us here We'll put the freshest men in front of the wall, archers on top, and the lesser numbers and the Northmen behind in reserve."

"Bran will be here with a group of Northman and Unsullied." Jon told everybody. "If the Night King is so focused on him, then we plan around him trying to carve through the middle of us." He had a thought. "Let me speak with Lord Reed. He knows the bogs better than anyone, he may have ideas on slowing him down."

Daenerys nodded. "Good. I shall join you." She then looked at Loren. "Keep going, we need a plan that everyone is willing to see out to the bitter end."

"No pressure." Loren muttered, but he bowed his head anyway. "Your Grace." And with that, the pair left, leaving Loren alone with Tyrion. Loren quickly began to move small wooden pieces into formations, before shaking his head and switching the colours up a little.

"I remember the day you were born." Tyrion said fondly. "I was a boy of 12 myself, still being forced to hide away inside Casterly Rock. Your Father pulled me from my lessons to come and see the future heir of Casterly Rock. He let me hold you, despite your Mother's misgivings on the matter, and he told me that he hoped that you would grow into a strong leader."

Loren could hear the hatred in Tyrion's voice at the mention of his Father, but a small part of him was welling up at Tyland's words. "He said that?"

Tyrion nodded. "He was a twisted monster by the end of his life, but that part of him that people often say came from my Mother, he was always proud of you. He would be so again here, watching you plan for the end of the world."

"The reason it's so difficult is because he made it so." Loren said bitterly. "I cannot put the Northmen near us for fear of infighting. The Dornish and the Stormlanders still squabble, and if I so much as see a Frey on the battlefield then only the Seven know what I will do…" He sighed. "So much pointless hatred and bitterness, it is exhausting."

"Unless you use it to drive you." Tyrion whispered. "I am glad Lady Sansa killed him when she did, or who knows how else he would have fucked it up."

Loren froze as he was about to place the Dornish squares by his own red ones. "Sansa killed him?" He asked, his voice barely audible.

Tyrion's eyes widened. "You didn't know." He commented.

He had to admit though, it made a lot of sense. "It seems I underestimated my Father's wife." Loren shook his head. "Fuck…" He sighed. "I once swore that I would plunge my sword into Father's murderers heart, but that would leave my brother motherless." He slammed his fist on the table. "I want to be angry, to scream bloody murder and to abandon these Northern savages to whatever demon awaits them."

"But you are better than that." Tyrion said softly.

"Why?" Loren snapped. "Maybe I don't want to be better? Maybe Father had it right. Fuck everyone else that isn't us…" Loren sighed, closing his eyes to try and regain some composure. "No, I am not Father, I am not Grandfather. I will do my part here and in King's Landing and then go back home. I do not want to see that cursed red castle for a very long time afterwards, such ambitions have torn my family apart, I will allow it no more."

Loren quickly rearranged the pieces into something vaguely resembling an acceptable line up before he stormed out, eager to let out his pent-up anger and frustration in training.

With the lines drawn and the plans made, it was time for the longest day of Loren's life. All they had done was train and wait, and the gathered armies of Westeros were nearly all growing nervous. The Lord of Casterly Rock for the most part had spent his time with his friends, but eventually even they went to go about their own tasks seeing to their men, so Loren made his way to his tent and poured himself some Northern ale before he walked around the camp, letting himself be seen by the scared individuals that would fight and die for him later on.

He had been walking for a little while when he saw torchlight flickering from inside his good brothers tent and voices starting to be raised. He briskly walked towards it and opened the flaps, noticing Tyrion Lannister standing there with a host of Lannister faces looking at the dwarf accusingly.

"My Lord." Kevan said first. At his side stood Jaime and Daven Lannister.

"I heard arguing." Loren told them. If I heard it, then others will hear it. We do not need low morale this late on."

Kevan bristled. "He killed Tywin." He said bitterly. "Him being here is an insult."

"He did." Loren nodded. "And we have killed countless others. Tomorrow none of that matters as we stand side by side." He sighed. "Our family has been ripped apart over the last few years, for one night, can we not pretend it hasn't…"

Jaime nodded. "We're all going to die tomorrow anyway, we may as well drink together like the old days." He poured out some wine. "So long as you promise not to kill us here, brother."

Tyrion couldn't help the smirk appear on his face. "My axe is inside the command room."

Jaime grinned, moving aside to let the dwarf sit down. "Are you fighting tomorrow?"

Tyrion shook his head. "With any luck it will all be over. I will be inside with the Stark boy." Loren noticed Jaime's look of unease but thought against saying anything.

"Alright for some." Daven snorted. "We're all on the front line."

"The Mormont girl was particularly gleeful at that." Jaime noted. "Said it was your doing, Loren?"

Lore shrugged. "We have the best force here. Together with the Dornish and the Reachmen we will be the first line of defence before the Knights of the Vale charge in. Soften them before the cavalry strike."

"Is it wise to have a nation that hates us so much charging at us with mounted knights?" Daven asked.

"If we are worried about everybody that hates us then we are doomed, as we will need eyes everywhere." Kevan said calmly. "Loren's plan is smart, it puts those that are trusted the least yet have the most men in the front, with the weaker forces that believed in the severity of this threat first as a reserve. We must trust that they will see the need for cooperation over revenge, as we have done in the past with Dorne."

The elder Lannister's calming words pushed a spell of silence over the Lannister group where they all just sat and drank quietly. That was until Daven Lannister spoke up. "What are they like? These White Walkers?"

The air went cold, though Loren hoped he was imagining it. Nobody that had been at Harrenhal wanted to speak up first, so Loren did. "They're human, but not." He said coldly. "Skin rotting, bones sticking out. They're unnatural, moving quicker than the fastest of us, more savage than a hungry hound. I saw one and that was enough to last me for a lifetime."

Daven gulped. "So a physically fit Pycelle." He muttered, but the joke didn't land. He rose from his chair. "Excuse me, My Lord. I want to write to my sisters and my wife."

Loren nodded his agreement, his own letter for Cerenna inside his armour. Daven bowed, and he left his own tent, leaving the other four sitting once again in silence. They stayed like that for a while until this time Tyrion broke the quietness. "I know this may sound strange, given all I've done, but in a way I wish Father were here." Kevan looked absolutely outraged at the comment, and Tyrion held his hands up in a mock surrender. "I know, I know. But think of what he would say if he realised his brother, sons and grandson were all about to die trying to protect a Stark."

Jaime snorted first and snapped his hand up to his mouth to try and stop himself from laughing. Loren felt his mouth twitch and he started chuckling, which in turn made even Kevan smile in amusement. "He would bring you all back to kill you again." The elder man rolled his eyes. "Though he would also have done what was right…"

"Provided he could come out on top." Jaime stated.

"You all have such a shallow view." Kevan sighed. "But he wasn't all bad. Everything he did, despite what you think, was to make this House stronger than we found it."

Loren shook his head. "He did a good job of that." He muttered sarcastically.

"He did." Kevan said firmly. "As did your Father. The blame for our situation rests firmly on Cersei."

"No, Uncle." Tyrion shook his head. "It is not Cersei the rest of the world hated, it was Father, it was Tyland. Had they lived, the others would still have revolted." Tyrion then looked at Loren. "Thankfully, we have the right man in charge to try and fix that image of House Lannister."

"That remains to be seen." Loren shrugged. "If I die tonight, then I leave a babe in charge of a Kingdom that the rest of the realm would love to rip apart and do exactly what we did to the rest of Westeros."

"Then you best not die." Kevan said with one eyebrow raised, and Loren grinned, raising his tankard towards the elderly man who went to go and refill his goblet.

"Does anybody have a song?" Tyrion asked, looking around. "We should all go to our deaths thinking of a good song." He looked around the tent, and one by one everybody shook their heads. "A shame."

Loren took a swig of his drink, coming to the end of the northern ale. "I'm out." He sighed.

"No more wine, either." Kevan stated at the table. "I'll go and fetch some from…"

He was stopped in his tracks as a loud, bellowing horn blast ripped through the tent. Followed by another, and that was followed by a third. Loren immediately rose to his feet, his right hand gripping the hilt of Red Rain tightly as he franticly looked around at his companions, before he led the exodus of the tent into the cold Northern air outside.

With the snows and a lack of a major road it took the Westerlanders a lot longer that the others to get up to the North. Hence Loren and the gang arriving to an already burning Twins… Ryman Frey isn't the most compromising, and Daenerys really isn't the most forgiving…

Many of you predicted that Arya and the Northerners really aren't happy with Lannisters in their lands.

Loren finds out who killed his Father here too, and his reaction may surprise some people but he's done with the revenge and the bloodshed. He genuinely just wants peace and killing a Stark will just prolong the war which he doesn't want.

And finally, the true calm before the storm. This is a Lannister story, so it only felt right that the Lannisters should all have a bit of a moment.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Next Time: The Night King attacks…

Reviews:

Deadstorm Fire: If he didn't already know how badly that would go in the long run he might be tempted!

Guest (cruel acts): If he doesn't try, then what would be the point? He knows that it will take a lot to redeem House Lannister, but he certainly feels that those left alive and still within the circle of his influence are capable of some form of damage control.

Mister LaGuardia: He blames Tyrion for murder. Him telling Tyrion about Tysha he felt was needed because secrets have harmed everyone for a long time, that doesn't mean that he should have expected that reaction. He also didn't have a choice in the Sansa/Tyland marriage, he wasn't in charge then, but he is now.

Supremus85: I'm glad that some people are finally starting to like him, he's a character that has shown his growth from a naïve child to a genuine leader.

Hail King Cerion: The conclusion to the Cersei arc won't be as simple as Loren killing her I promise, too many people want her dead. As for Jon/Dany, I didn't want to do the usual they fall in love and rule together thing. The person that overheard their conversation will have a lot to do with how House Targaryen looks after all this…

kirito emiya: A helpful comment… what is weak?

McMysterio: Well spotted! No, Arya getting captured was awful for her, but her character remains throughout and when she had a chance to escape, she took it.

BlackWatcher1234: The only Frey's standing now are those of Riverrun and Harrenhal. Arya only has her raw ability that we saw before she met the Hound in the show. Don't underestimate the power of motherhood. At the point Arya gave birth she thought that her and Sansa were the only living Starks, and Sansa was in the hands of the Lannisters. I mention force numbers for the most part a few chapters ago in an authors note. Loren doesn't expect that all will be forgiven easily.

Jason Kreuger Myers: I really like Genna as a character, but you're right she's ambitious and a Lannister. Interesting thoughts about the eavesdropper…

PlaythegameOrdie: She knew what Tyland could be, she just never saw that side of him towards her so she defended him to others.